“Interview,” fishnets and other movie seductions
What’s it all about, Alfie? I’ve hopped, skipped and jumped this week from the provocative “Interview” DVD - the write-up’s in the previous blog - to “I Am Legend” (Grade-B escapism with Will Smith doing Tom Hanks in “Castaway”) and “Juno” (an off-kilter comic gem that’s one of the year’s best films).
What a long strange trip it’s been.
The seduction sequence, a mix of dialogue, movement and posturing, in “Interview” is what set my brain ticking.
A celeb played by Sienna Miller riffs - semi-intoxicated - to a grating journalist played by Steve Buscemi about fishnet stockings and their appeal, to men.
She also goes on a bit about the high-heels thing, but it’s the fishnet demo that’s the grabber.
Like most women, she looks excellent in them. And sexy. And flirtatious. And, frankly, a little naughty, as in the kind of bad that’s good.
Why do men like them, she either queries, or remarks upon - I’m not completely clear; my movie brain turns to mush by the end of most weeks.
And, in that teasing, game-playing, prodding way of hers, she gets a reaction out of Buscemi.
And that’s what she wants: a reaction.
As for what kind, that exists in her brain, or the brain of the writer’s.
Is he aroused by the stockings? Do they make her more attractive? Are they always, ever or just at the moment a turn-on? Or not?
Their relationship is combative in that sequence, so getting through to him in any way, shape or form is the point; any kindled sex drive is frosting.
I like fishnets. I notice them. Maybe that’s the point.
Toss in high heels and we have: Something’s happening here.
Of course it depends on the person. And, in terms of movie characters, of the point in the courtship dance they’re at.
In “Interview,” it’s more of a testing than a prelude to sex. Although that remains an option.
Digression: It seems most movie seductions, the successful ones anyway, are initiated by women rather than men. Granted, men in fishnets is a rarity, but I’ve seen it on BART; it didn’t work. In fact, I’d willing sign a petition against.
On the other hand, to each his/her own. End digression.
Some women shouldn’t wear fishnets.
Mrs. Robinson carries it off. The seduction scene in “The Graduate” remains the classic. The Mike Nichols close-up of Anne Bancroft’s leg, with a very young Dustin Hoffman, way out of his league and completely ensnared, mesmerized in the background.
No good can come of it, of course. She’s married and out for a sling. And he’s still green under the desire.
But it’s a done deal the second she looks at him - in an earlier scene - with that hypnotic, come-hither-and-play-with-me glance - and commentary.
You can feel the heat.
You don’t feel the heat with Sienna in the fishnets; there’s too much anger and uncertainty permeating the scene.
But still, you notice and remember.
That’s the way it is with fishnets - and their association with the iconic femme fatale.
Nice legs don’t hurt.
Kathleen Turner had ‘em in “Body Heat,” which lived up to its title as well as any movie potboiler ever; so hot it sizzled.
Many blogs ago I wrote that the most erotic movie sequence I’ve ever experienced was in “Ulysses,” the adaptation of the James Joyce saga, not Homer’s.
And it was done all with words; fishnets would have been superfluous.
It’s one woman - Molly Bloom - lying alone on a bed sharing her rich sexual fantasy. Or perhaps it’s a remembrance; that’s the end-of-the-week mental slush kicking in again.
Whatever the case, it was the steamiest and most powerful film sex scene I can recall.
And isn’t that one of the reasons we go to movies - to be titillated?
Posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2007
Under: "I Am Legend", "Interview", "Juno", "The Graduate", "Ulysses", James Joyce, Molly Bloom, Mrs. Robinson, Sienna Miller, movie seduction, seduction | No Comments »