movies

By DENNIS LIM

WHAT did gay liberation do for gay cinema? To begin to tackle this question, one has to survey the shadowy history of on-screen homosexuality, consider the elusive notion of a gay sensibility and — as with all minority-group debates — weigh the conflicting ideological positions on difference and assimilation. But while there may be no easy answer, the coincidental appearance this week of two gay-theme events in New York repertory houses provides a window into the evolution of gay cinema, both in the shadow of liberation politics and far beyond it.

“Word Is Out,” a 1977 documentary that is being revived in a restored print at Anthology Film Archives starting Friday, interweaves the stories of 26 gay men and lesbians who speak openly about coming out, finding love and fighting prejudice. It was a milestone in the developing public image of the gay-rights movement.

When “Word Is Out” was released in theaters and broadcast on public television more than eight years after the Stonewall riots, media depictions were still largely confined to unflattering stereotypes, and gay audiences had yet to see their experiences reflected on screen. Reviewing the film in The Advocate, Vito Russo declared, “The silence of gay people on the screen has been broken.”

But gay (and gay-friendly) filmmakers were never exactly mute, nor have they all opted to speak in the same ways. Queer/Art/Film, a monthly series that begins its new season at the IFC Center on Monday, serves as a reminder that there is a strain of gay cinema that predates and runs parallel to the consciousness-raising tradition pioneered by “Word Is Out.” Organized by the filmmaker Ira Sachs (“Forty Shades of Blue”) and the journalist Adam Baran, the series is programmed by gay artists and writers invited to present a film they find personally significant.

More

nostalgia cover Nostalgia

Nostalgia (2009)
Studio- Reel Queer Productions / Good Releasing
Director- Courtney Trouble
Cast- April Flores, Kimberly Kane, Jiz Lee, Syd Blakovich, Madison Young, Trouble, Pepper Sox, Sealu Sideshow, Destiny Prince, Selena Raven, Tina Horn, Kimberlee Cline, Carson, Sadie Lune, and Carol Queen

In case you haven’t heard, GoodVibes.com now has its own adult porn production studio, GoodReleasing.com and I am overjoyed.  Two of my favorite girl-girl directors—Courtney Trouble (NoFauxxx.com) and Madison Young (MadisonBound.com)—are producing woman-made queer porn under Reel Queer Productions and were nominated at this years AVN Awards.  I have reviewed quite a few of both their films on PopMyCherryReview.com and also her on SexCarnival that you can also check out.

Nostalgia (2009) is a super-cool porno by up-and-cumming director, Courtney Trouble.  As the tile indicates, it has a nostalgic feel and pays homage to the late great Marilyn Chambers who sadly died of an aneurysm in April last year.  Marilyn Chambers was best known for her portrayal in Behind the Green Door (1972) in which her character Gloria gets kidnapped and “raped” before a live sleazy circus-like audience.

Scene 1- (Homage to Behind the Green Door) All girl three-way starring Jiz Lee

Two women are making out on a couch, one in a feather mask who is “warming” the other girl up (Gloria) to get her ready for the circus-rape orgy scene.  Killer tunes play in the background.  “Gloria” is then lead blindfolded into a dungeon scene where several spectators await including Carol Queen with a crazy voyeuristic smile on her face. “Gloria” is then “ravished” upon a stage by one the feathered girl, when in walks Jiz Lee, likewise feather-masked sporting a big strap-on.  The audience claps as both feather-masked women play with her, while Jiz mounts her, first slowly, then hard and fast.  She orgasms? Then both masked ladies squirt fem ejaculate over her.  This scene doesn’t have the impact that my memory has of the original film, but then I was probably pretty impressionable back then, and I can remember it being pretty “Wow!”  What may have lacked during this scene for me was the “rape” element.  In this film the scene is very “consensual” and doesn’t have the scary rape-fantasy scenario that many women fantasize about.  And, while I don’t agree with nonconsensual sex in real life, in fantasy having rough sex and being taken is hot.  Also, I remember the audience being more involved in the original than they are here. It was way more like a circus freak show, and being a freak, I loved the edgy atmosphere of the Behind the Green Door much better.  Of course, this is Courtney’s own take on it, but it just didn’t work for me as well as the original.

Interlude- Courtney & Pepper

Meanwhile, to begin the film and in between each episode, Courtney and real-life lover Pepper are making out as they watch the films via a computer screen. These are just short interludes until the end of the film.

Scene 2- (Homage to Deep Throat) All girl three-way with Jiz Lee, Syd Blakovich and Madison Young.

In this homage to Deep Throat Madison plays a patient who can’t orgasm, or even feel any arousal what-so-ever from sex.  She comes to Dr. Syd for help as Jiz plays the trusty nurse in a blonde wig.  Sid is amazing in her geek glasses as the doctor, very hot and funny.  Got some great lines and definitely doesn’t fuck them up.  Madison does a pretty good job, but is very melodramatic.  Given that it is comedic she was most likely supposed to ham it up a bit.  Dr. Sid tries several methods to arouse Madison: bondage, a hitachi, strap-on; each to no avail.  Dr. Sid then discovers that Madison’s clit is in her throat.  “Ah ha!  I zink we’ve found it!”  Madison then hungrily gobbles down Sid’s strap-on and is a pro at it.  You would really think she is getting off by it and perhaps she is.  Once the cock squirts silver glitter and fireworks ensue, the three get it on and Sid fucks Madison with a golf club, which is very cool and has quite a technique.  “I do believe you’re cured”, says Dr. Sid.  Fucking awesome scene!  Very fun, hot and funny!

Scene 3- (Homage to Babylon Pink) with Tina Horn

I never saw Babylon Pink, so can’t refer to it for comparison.  But, this scene was really kind of boring and didn’t seem to have much focus or built-up progression.  It features Tina Horn (who was awesome in Seven Minutes in Heaven).  Here, you can barely hear them over the music, and I never get into it.  The scenario is three gals sitting down to lunch in this weird room that looks like an empty stage.  One is a vegan and is uninterested in the other two women’s discussion about meat.  Turned off I guess is more appropriate.  So she fantasizes about having sex, first as the bottom, then turning the tables and topping the other two.  Like I said, press FF and skip it.

Scene 4- (Homage to the Devil in Miss Jones) with April Flores, Kimberly Kane, Courtney Trouble and Pepper

I didn’t see the original Devil in Miss Jones, but saw 3 & 4 with Amber Lynn and Vanessa Del Rio which was uber hot.  This scene stars April Flores as a lonely woman who commits suicide and then finds herself in purgatory.  I really love the beginning atmosphere of the scene as April stares at herself in the mirror and then runs the bathtub where she will slit her wrist (which is hinted at with red glitter running down the side of the tub and her floating in the bathtub full of blood).  It could have been more alt, edgy horror-show, but was very artistic and April is fantastic.  So, she is transported to purgatory (which is a lot like hell) and the scene becomes more comical.  Kimberly Kane (the Devil’s assistant) meets her at the door to hell and tells her she has a chance to go back if she engages in one of the deadly sins, which she of course picks lust.  Kane then brings April into a room where Courtney and Pepper are making out.  A fuck-fest ensues, but mainly the couples stay together until the end.  Kane and April are seriously hot and I wish the scene wasn’t as cut up as it was, and focused longer on them.  Not that I didn’t get into Courtney and Pepper, I just wanted more of Kane and April.  By the end they are all having sex together in a massive orgy and assume a very cool position with April and Courtney are facing each other as they boink tits and their partners lay under them eating them out.  Great scene!  But give me more April & Kimberly!

nostalgia1 Nostalgia

The END credits are dedicated to Marilyn Chambers and then there is an inserted vignette that goes back to Dr. Sid talking into a recorder about his last patient Madison, as Jiz fucks her from behind.  Dr. Sid talks about discovering a pleasure spot in her throat and calls it the Blakovich spot.  Again, pretty funny and unexpected.  It left me smiling and wanting more, more, more!

This film also has killer glitter-trash tunes featuring The Need, Veronica Lipgloss, TWIN, and Two Ton Boa, and was nominated for an AVN for the music.

Overall, Nostalgia was very good despite the third scene which didn’t cut it and the first which could have been much more edgy.  A great attempt at honoring these classics, which are big shoes to fit into.  I really love that Courtney Trouble is trying to do something radically different with porn and take it into a new, or even retro direction.

Get your copy of Nostalgia at GoodVibes.com

crashpad5 Crash Pad Series  Volume 5  The Revolving Door

Crash Pad Series- Volume 5- The Revolving Door
Director- Shine Louise Houston
Studio- Blowfish Video/ Pink & White
Cast- August, Stacy Staxxx, Rex, Scarlett Chaos, Red, Cyd Loverboy, Kuma, Julie Warren, Shawn, Mickey Mod

Crash Pad Series, Volume 5: The Revolving Door is the kinkiest of the Crash Pad series so far and features lots of plays of dominance, submissive power struggles, switching and hardcore sex.  The cast consists of hot gender-fucking freaks, femmes-dykes, alt-queers, bois, butches, a trans-man and even a surprise ending between Crash Pad crush Shawn (Syd Blakovich) and a bio-guy.  With five scenes, various top/bottom scenarios, diverse body-types and looks, there is plenty of hot queer kinky porn for everyone.

Scene 1- August and Stacy Staxxx

craswh pad5 1 300x200 Crash Pad Series  Volume 5  The Revolving Door

Its August’s birthday and Stacy Staxxx throws her a hot party, with herself as the gift.  Stacy is a stacked, hot, alt-nymphet and August is a cute alt-dyke, both with nice tats.  Stacy begins by dripping birthday candle wax on August, and then ties her wrists to the bed.  Stacy then fucks herself on August’s faux cock.  The pair switch positions and August takes control, binding Stacy wrists, and then fingering her.  They end with August fucking Stacy doggie-style until she whimpers and moans in orgasm. Sexy!

Scene 2- Rex and Scarlett Chaos

craswh pad5 2 300x200 Crash Pad Series  Volume 5  The Revolving Door

Rex and Scarlett Chaos (aka Essin’ Em) meet up for some femme/dyke action.  Scarlett is bodacious and a Rex is very cute boi-dyke.  They make a good pair together and the scene has a lot of playful chemistry.  We start out with some spanking and some very passionate necking, and then Scarlett gets naughty and struggles a bit for dominance.  She’s what I call a SAM (smart-assed Masochist), who likes to be a saucy bottom.  But, Rex won’t have any of that and cuffs her to the bed post.  Rex uses a pinwheel on her, and then starts to finger her.  Scarlett pleads, “Please fuck me,” which Rex does hardcore and gives her a screaming orgasm that breaks the sound barrier. Scarlett reciprocates by giving Rex’s strap-on dick a wicked blowjob (something she does quite well).  Rex fucks her until she screams again, making for a hot, playful scene!

Scene 3- Red and Cyd Loverboy

craswh pad5 3 300x200 Crash Pad Series  Volume 5  The Revolving Door

Red’s a hot alt-femme-boi with killer tits and tats, and Cyd’s a playful butch-boi.  Cyd is the obvious bottom but likes a good struggle.  It doesn’t take long for Red to put her in her place though as she slaps her face, makes her suck cock, degrades her and calls her pain-slut and faggot.  There’s some chest punching, ass spanking, bondage, gagging, and all around rough play.  However, the scene remains pretty playful.  Red ass fingers Cyd, and then fucks her.  Later Cyd eats Red out and fingers her until she comes.  Then Cyd gets fingered and bites her hand as she orgasms.  Great chemistry!

Scene 4- Kuma and Julie Warren

craswh pad5 4 300x200 Crash Pad Series  Volume 5  The Revolving Door

Kuma and Julie appear to be a couple, or at least frequent play partners.  Kuma is a bald, bearded trans-guy leather daddy with lots of tattoos including a cool back piece.  Julie is a voluptuous bottom and Daddy’s good little girl. Kuma’s quite a loving sadist and amazingly skilled at percussion.  He wields two-fisted floggers on Julie’s back then her breasts.  Then it’s on to the nasty canes that leave nice red stripes on Julie’s thighs.  Julie then gets to suck Kumo’s cock for being “such a good girl” and is later fucked and fisted, until she asks permission to come.  Yes sir, thank you sir!

Scene 5- Shawn and Mickey Mod

craswh pad5 5 300x200 Crash Pad Series  Volume 5  The Revolving Door

For many films I don’t like to read about them, or even read the covers before I watch them, as it takes away some of the freshness and element of surprise.  Well, I was surprised when I saw this obvious bio-guy sitting waiting on a bed waiting for someone to arrive.  And, who walks in?  Crash Pad boi-crush Shawn (aka Syd Blakovich).  I’m floored and wonder how this is going to play out.  Mickey immediately takes the bottom role and starts sucking Shawn’s cock.  So, I think maybe this scene has a chance.  Then Mickey fingers Shawn while she sucks his bio-dick, and they make-out all sweaty and hot, and finally Shawn squirts in Mickey’s face as he comes.  Pretty feverish scene, and like Shawn says during the credits “if someone’s attractive, they’re attractive, and gender isn’t something you see with your eyes anyway.”  So while I was surprised to see Shawn with a guy, the scene works and is definitely hot.

There wasn’t one scene in the film that didn’t interest or excite me in some way.  I loved all the kinky exploration and playful S/m.  All the scenes had a nice build-up of momentum and chemistry between the players.  I especially loved the diverse array of bodies and shifting genders.  I hope Houston keeps adding more queer kink, interesting characters and maybe adds in an orgy scene at the Crash Pad someday soon.

You can get Crash Pad 5 and other films from the Crash Pad Series at Blowfish.com where you can also view the trailer.

rough sex Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex (2009)
Studio: Vivid
Director: Tristan Taormino
Cast: Adrianna Nicole, Christian XXX, Daniel Wylde, Derrick Pierce, Francesca Le, Julius Ceazher, Marco Banderas, Marie Luv, Mark Davis, Sasha Grey, Satine Phoenix

Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex is brutally sexy!  It has a very cool and simple premise: five hot vixens dream up their best “rough sex” fantasies and get to live them out on camera with their most desired stud porn hunks.  The idea itself is a wet dream come true, and when these sassy (or submissive) sex kittens team up with guys who like to play rough, the sparks begin to fly.

If you are into naughty role playing and hardcore, rough sex, this film is for you. They don’t fool around and there is plenty of face slapping, humiliation, degradation, whacking and general “man”-handling action going down. The sex is pretty rough and the fantasies are fairly common role-play scenarios that many women have. There are three fem-submissive scenes about being forced or taken like Adrianna Nicole’s intruder alert, Marie Luv’s punishment and Satine Phoenix’s stranded damsel meets dominant stranger.  Then, there are the divas that turn the tables on their fuck obsessions such as Francesca Lee’s femdomme supremacy and Sasha Grey’s switch play.  Each scene features a prelude interview of the female cast member as she talks about what’s hot and what’s not, and why “rough sex” makes her wet.

Scene 1- Adrianna and Marco

rs11 200x300 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Adrianna longs for fantasy rape by an intruder who breaks into her apartment. Just as she gets out of the shower, Marco steals up behind her, grabs her, and then clasps a hand over her mouth warning her not to scream.  Adrianna’s eyes go wide with fear and this scene looks like it is going to be really hot.  He slaps her around a bit, chokes her, and then drags her into the bedroom like a dog on a leash.  After that, the scene kind-of looses it raw edge and the intensity in those first few seconds is really never captured again.  Sure, it’s rough, but there is something lacking, like my connection with the performers.  While they both seem genuine, I never really get into it and I find myself critiquing it rather than enjoying the scene for what it is.

Scene 2- Satine and Derrick

rs2 1 300x168 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Whoa!  This scene is perhaps the best in the film.  So fucking hot, it sizzles and the chemistry between Satine and Derrick is tangible. Not to mention that Derrick is to die for (bald, alt and tattooed, with a rock-hard body) and Satine is a sultry little minx. Satine’s fantasy is getting stranded on a lost desert road, where she meets a “kindly stranger” who offers to stay with her until someone comes for her vehicle.  The sun is hot, the sand is dusty, they are sweating and flirting, and then things turn a bit dangerous.  Derrick realizes no-one is coming for a while and he can have his way with her.  There is a lot of foreplay which becomes increasingly rougher as he realizes, hey, she likes it.  He starts pushing her around, groping her roughly, pulling her hair and smacking her face and tits and you can tell that Satine is getting so turned on and juicy before he ever starts fucking her.  I can’t tell you how many times I watched this scene and came.  Definitely jilling off material! Rough sex, lots of unique positions on the vintage jeep, and crowned by a choking messy forced blowjob.  These two rock the screen with a riveting performance.

rs 1 201x300 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Scene 3 – Francesca and Christian

rs3 1 300x168 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Christian is a magnificent brute of a man (again bald and sexy) and Francesca is a hot busty milf.  She’s a bit fed up with her husband ignoring her all the time, being the perfect housewife and all, and thinks it’s time for a little pay-back. And, pay-back’s a BITCH in stilettos and corset, with a nasty attitude and the will to dominate her much larger opponent. I like my brutes dominant and my bitches submissive, so for me this scene didn’t hold a lot of sexual pizzazz.  Although, Christian is adorable and so submissive for such a big boy it was interesting seeing him dominated.  Still, all the while she was crushing her tits and ass in his face, slapping him around, and spitting cum in his mouth (yuk!), I was wishing he’d grab her and give her a few smacks of her own.  I guess for me there was a problem with the believability factor.  I just didn’t believe she could dominate him in real life, and didn’t like the way she shrieked orders at him and brutalized him, when he was being such a good boy.  Not that I don’t think that he can be dominated, as he seemed to like it.  She just came across as a bit shrill and lacked authenticity. Still, I’m sure this is a fantasy that would appeal to many women and men who would find it hot.

Scene 4 – Marie and Julius

rs12 300x200 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Marie wants to be punished for fucking around and treated like the slut she is.  The fantasy sounded great and I was all for it.  But, then the action starts happening, and there’s not much cussin’ and a fightin’ goin’ on here, and I’m like “Whoa, wait a minute?”  Why isn’t he calling her nasty names and treating her like a little tramp, whore, slut, which she obviously wants and deserves? Man, give me ten minutes with her and I’ll have her crying and begging for more.  Again, like the first scene there was no build-up, no sizzle, and it didn’t seem very rough to me, but maybe my finger pressed the fast forward button by mistake and I missed all the good stuff.  Nope. Don’t think so.  Weak scene, but too bad as it had potential.

Scene 5 – Sasha and Daniel

rs5 1 300x168 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Okay, did I say that scene 2 was the best scene?  Maybe I lied.  To tell the truth, this scene is so hot that it rivals scene 2, and they both win best scene in my book.  Smokin’ Sasha wants to play switch in a power play scenario and who does she pick?—my all-time favorite male porn star, Daniel.  Daniel is known for his rough play style in many alt porn films, as much as for his playfulness.  Sasha picked him because she thought he would let her slap him around, which he does and seems to like it too.  They talk about what they’d like to do and Sasha defines her only limit—No tit slapping.  So, the pair get it on and right from the beginning it’s a power struggle but Daniel takes over and does his nasty choking and slapping number on her.  The scene has a series of peaks as it continually builds momentum, switching back and forth, while they get lost in the passion of each moment.  And, then, Daniel forgets and slaps Sasha’s tits, immediately cringing like dog about to be punished.  Sasha pins him on the pool table and Daniel starts apologizing profusely, and then they are snickering and laughing and back into the hot rough sex play.  This scene was not only hot but so much fun.  You can tell they are both getting off on it and are enjoying the ambiguity of working together for the first time.

rs5 201x300 Tristan Taorminos Rough Sex

Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex is overall a great porn if you like rough sex and some serious role-playing power exchange fantasies.  It is worth it just for scene 2 and 5 alone.  I applaud Tristan for giving the women in the film the chance to design their own scenarios and define what is rough and sexy to them.  The production quality is pretty good in most places although the sound was off a bit sometimes and some of the camera work looked a bit shaky.  The extras includes a Choking and Safety snippet with Penny Flame who teaches the proper way to choke to avoid injury which I thought was a very good idea, as no doubt a bunch of novices will see this film and want to start practicing without a clue.

Check out Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex at Babeland, where you can find many other films by Tristan and other cool women porn directors.

Viviane also posted the trailer to Rough Sex here.

SevenMinsHeavenComingOut HR Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out

Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out (2009)
Director- Courtney Trouble
Studio- Reel Queer Productions / Good Releasing
Cast- Carson, Puck Goodfellow, Joline Parton, Sophia, Tina Horn, Sarah Lee Sinful, Jae

Courtney Trouble (Reel Queer Productions) recently joined forces with GoodVibes.com and their new adult film production company Good Releasing, directing and producing four films already this year including Roulette, Nostalgia, Speak Easy and Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out.  In case you don’t know who Courtney Trouble is, she is the creator of NoFauxxx.com “the longest running queer porn site on the web” and her film Roulette won the Feminist Porn Award for “Most Deliciously Diverse Cast” just this year.  Her film company, Real Queer Productions “documents authentic, edgy, queer sex and culture with relevant, intelligent films inclusive of the many sexualities that identify as queer.”

 Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out

And, the timing couldn’t be better.  Queer Porn is the new alt-porn of the adult industry, an up-and-coming genre that is making waves across the pornosphere with directors like Shine Louise Houston, Courtney Trouble and Madison Young, and queer adult film actors like Jiz Lee, Syd Blakovich, Dylan Ryan and many more.

 Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out

“Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out” is Trouble’s answer to reality porn, in which she gathers a amateur cast of diverse queer women and a transman Puck Goodfellow, puts them in a slumber party environment to play spin-the-bottle and Truth or Dare, and films the sexy frolicking that transpires.  With no script, no rules and no limits, the cast are free to explore their fantasies and desires with whomever they choose, a few of which part-take in every experience and scene they can get themselves into like sex-starved, greedy little hedonists.  Two of the cast have never participated in an adult before and talk about their experience in behind-the-scenes interludes.

As you may imagine, what emerges is a fantastic fuck-fest featuring strap-ons and gang-bangs, spanking, role-play and power exchanges, fisting and fingering, lessons in cock sucking, kissing, fondling and playful teasing.  Where one scene ends, the other begins and the sex and play seems to go on forever, with bodies changing places, a new strap-on here, a new twosome, threesome or foursome reveling in hot, sexy, authentic, queer, smoldering, diverse, inter-racial hardcore sex.  There is never a dull moment, and the chemistry between the cast and their enthusiasm is evident in their sparkling eyes, laughs and smiles, and orgasmic moans.

This film is every queer girl’s wet dream, and certainly one of my all-time fantasies.  I won’t go into a scene-by-scene, as you really have to see this film for yourself.  So, if you are a fan of queer porn and Courtney Trouble’s work, or if you are curious to what it’s all about and want a great jill’in off experience, go buy “Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out” now from GoodVibes.com.

See the Trailer at CourtneyTrouble.com

truthordare 300x246 Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out

And… if you have aspirations of fulfilling your own sexual fantasies (or all-girl gang bangs) but are not sure how to get the party started, check out Truth Or Dare: A Game Of Passion at GoodVibes.com as well, a naughty game of role-playing and daring romancing to help you get rid of inhibitions. Includes 100 game cards, one die, and instructions.