Let’s carry on with my unconventional list of the best sex scenes in mainstream movies. Remember from the first go-around, the Orson Well quote:
“Ecstasy … is not to be communicated by a couple of people, or one person, or any combinations there of, unless it’s actually happening … [Ecstasy] is really not part of the thing we can do on celluloid.”
I will now single-highhandedly disprove the magnificent Orson Wells. Or, barring that, will show once again that your Humble Narrator is just a bit off.
Script, then the film clip of the scene to follow(or the closest thing I could find!) Compare and contrast. Let’s go to the videotape!
- BLACK SNAKE MOAN
Christina Ricci is Rae: Nymphomaniac, viciously beaten, found in the road by Samuel Jackson and held against her will at the end of a chain. Imagine Craig Brewer’s pitch on this one! Ricci is combustible flame, literally speaking in tongues in this script scene. Don’t have a YouTube scene but the music video sets the tone. If you haven’t seen this, get thee hence…
INT. LAZARUS’ HOME – DAY
Rae flinches and flails. She falls to the floor.
LAZARUS
Hold on, now. Hold on!
Rae’s eyes are open and filled with fear. She struggles to
flee as Laz holds her in place, trying to reassure her.
LAZARUS
Now, I ain’t gonna hurt’cha. Calm down, Miss.
(she fights, coughs)
Listen… Listen… LISTEN NOW, GAL!
(Rae settles in his grip)
I ain’t gonna hurt ya, hear? Gotta get
you well. Now, look me… HEY! Look me in
the eye.
Rae is too weak to talk or move. Laz clutches her small face
in his dark hands.
LAZARUS
Open your eyes. Go’on, now. You need to
see, ain’t no harm here. Ain’t no harm.
(Rae calms)
My name is Lazarus Woods. And I ain’t
gonna let you die.
Rae’s eyes roll back.
Lazarus looks terrified as she cranes her head back and
forward. Her mouth opens. In her sickened state, with the force
of something evil and deep inside, Rae clasps her open mouth
over Laz’s. A shriek sounds in his brain as he holds her tighter,
allowing the kiss to grow in intensity.
Rae falls to her stomach as Laz abruptly stands and stumbles
across the room. What he sees chills him to the bone.
Rae is writhing on the floor as if she is possessed – a rant
of raspy words pour from her mouth.
RAE
… you don’t… touch me… s’no… NO!
Mm-mm… Mm-MMMMMMMMMMMMM!
N-N’you FUCK!
Lazarus gets spooked by what he is seeing. He looks to the
mantle. His weathered Bible lies in a coat of dust. He picks
it up as a wave of the burning hits Rae.
She clutches her breast and crotch, rolling from side to side.
RAE
Mm-mm… mm-mm… Ma-muh… Ma-MUH!
(sudden anger, shouting)
See… S… See if’I GIVE… GIVE’A… SHIT..
- HER
A dude and his operating system have a new kind of sex. The voice is Scarlett Johansson so OK, I get it, but it’s quite the commentary on where we’re going, eh? Name me one movie with a sex scene like this? Playing back every movie you ever saw in your mind and finding no scene like the scene you’re about to write is a pretty good measure of originality. This makes the list because of that…
THEODORE
I wish you were in this room with
me right now. I wish I could put my
arms around you.
(beat)
I wish I could touch you.
A long beat. Theodore is unsure if he crossed a line.
SAMANTHA
How would you touch me?
THEODORE
I would touch you on your face with
just the tips of my fingers. And
put my cheek against your cheek.
SAMANTHA
That’s nice.
THEODORE
And just rub it so softly.
SAMANTHA
Would you kiss me?
THEODORE
I would. I’d take your head into my
hands.
SAMANTHA
Keep talking.
THEODORE
And kiss the corner of your mouth.
So softly.
SAMANTHA
Where else?
THEODORE
I’d run my fingers down your neck
to your chest, and I’d kiss your breasts.
SAMANTHA
This is amazing what you’re doing
to me. I can feel my skin.
THEODORE
I’d put my mouth on you and I’d taste you.
She gasps.
SAMANTHA
I can feel you. Oh god, I can’t
take it. I want you inside me.
THEODORE
I’m slowly putting myself into you.
Now I’m inside you, all the way
inside you.
SAMANTHA
I can feel you, yeah. Please. We’re
here together.
THEODORE
Samantha.
SAMANTHA
Oh my god.
THEODORE
This is amazing.
SAMANTHA
Don’t stop.
THEODORE
I feel you everywhere.
SAMANTHA
I am. All of you, all of you inside
of me. Everywhere.
- THE GRADUATE
Ever wonder how to write a whole summer going by in 90 seconds? Look no further than this Buck Henry sequence. We don’t actually see Dustin Hoffman having sex with Anne Bancroft but we don’t have to, a D-rate hackster could do that. The great director Mike Nichols gives us speed, nuance, and visual essence, defining a changing character relationship in 90 seconds. Is is just me or… The older I get the hotter Mrs. Robinson gets?
Here’s how to write that montage, which actually appears as individual scenes in the script:
INT. TAFT HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT CLOSEUP Ben watching. PULL BACK and we are in the Taft Hotel Room. Ben is sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard, watching the television set which is on a stand facing the bed. SOUND of the HUM of the test pattern. PULL BACK to a WIDE SHOT of the room, lit only by the light from the television set. Mrs. Robinson walks into the shot, half dressed. She passes between Ben and the television set and goes out of frame. Ben continues to stare at the set. SOUND of a ZIPPER being pulled up. Mrs. Robinson appears again and passes the other way. SOUND of BRACELETS being put on. Mrs. Robinson passes back the other way again. SOUND of CLOTHING being put on and a PURSE being snapped closed. Mrs. Robinson, now fully dressed and carrying her purse, passes through again and, without looking at Ben, goes to the door of the hotel room, opens it and exits. 76 INT. BENS' ROOM - CLOSEUP - BEN - DAY SOUND of DOOR closing. Follow Ben as he gets up and moves to the windows of what is now his BEDROOM in the Braddock house. He opens the closed blinds over the window. The sun is bright outside. His bathing suit is on the window sill. He takes the suit and puts it on. He moves to the bedroom door, opens it and goes out. 77 OMITTED 78 EXT. BRADDOCK BACKYARD AND POOL AREA - DAY We see Mrs. Braddock in the kitchen. Ben comes through the back door, moves to the pool and dives in. The raft floats in the center of the pool. 79 SHOT - UNDERWATER Ben swims toward us the length of the pool. 80 SHOT - AT THE WATERLINE Ben surfaces and, in one movememt, pulls himself up on the raft and - CUT TO: 81 INT. TAFT HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT - lands on top of Mrs. Robinson on the bed. He stays on top of her for a moment. MR. BRADDOCK'S VOICE Ben - what are you doing? Ben turns toward us and looks. CUT TO: 82 EXT. BRADDOCK BACKYARD AND POOL AREA - DAY SHOT - POV OF BEN ON RAFT Mr. Braddock standing by the side of the pool. The sun is behind him. BEN'S VOICE Well - I would say that I'm just drifting.
- WILD THINGS
Denise Richards and Neve Campbell… yep.
Video of this scene isn’t on YouTube but the video I found is a Top 10 list where this scene is #1. Halfway through they screen the scene with reaction by a bunch of comedians and Kevin Bacon. This wet and wild moment brought to you by Chicago director, John McNaughton. Predictable? Of course! But I ask you, how could I keep it off the list?
Suzie's skinny shape writhes underneath Kelly on the gleaming
tile. She gasps for air. Kelly finally lets go, but remains on
her knees between Suzie's legs, breathing hard. A moment. Kelly
touches Suzie's face.
KELLY
Why do you make me hurt you? It's like
you want it or something.
Suzie sobs, takes Kelly's hand.
KELLY (CONT'D)
God, you are scared, aren't you?
Suzie runs her lips over Kelly's fingers, then pushes her T-shirt
up, pushing Kelly's hand onto her breast.
KELLY (CONT'D)
And this is going to make you feel
better, make you trust me...
Suzie nods, tearing her T-shirt, getting both of Kelly's hands
onto her breasts, then pushing at Kelly's wrists, getting her to
pull at her nipples, hard... Kelly obliges...
Suzie cries out in pain. Kelly's hands move down to pull off
Suzie's bottoms...
ON RAY
still at it with the video, his face impassive, watching.
As Kelly pulls Suzie back into the jacuzzi, as the girls' hands
slide round the curves of each other's hips, pulling themselves
to each other, as the layers of steam rise to envelope them...
CUT TO:
VIDEOTAPE
Kelly and Suzie making love in the jacuzzi.
