Blue Valentine - The SSL Review
I just watched Blue Valentine this weekend, and as I expected from things I had heard about it, this movie was eligible for an SSL review. Cunnilingus leading to orgasm, my dear readers, is clearly a depiction of female sexual release, and that's just what we're looking for.
I'll say right off the bat that Blue Valentine is getting the 5 out of 5 vulva rating. The movement, the area of stimulation, and the build to orgasm seemed realistic. Plus, there were no other strange, unwarranted, silly depictions or discussions of female sexual response in this movie to ruin it.
The sexual situations in Blue Valentine are more raw than we're probably used to seeing in movies. There's not a lot of stagey positioning during sex scenes to make things look less lascivious, and the cunnilingus scene in question is no exception. The couple is on a bed. She's wearing a dress, and by golly he just gets his head right on down there between her legs. He's snuggled down there good; clearly stimulating the outer vulva/clit area and not looking as though he's trying to ram his tongue into the vagina or anything ridiculous like that. She responds by moving her body so her hips are hungrily rocking against his face, and the intensity of her body movement and the quiet vocalizations indicate that she is building up to orgasm. There is a subtle cut, and we then see her happily laughing and looking satiated while his head is still in place between her legs; although he's not still working it like he was. It basically looks as though she just came and is now laughing out of ticklishness, or happiness, or slight embarrassment, or whatever in the aftermath.
It's actually a pretty nice scene in my opinion; kinda dirty-hot, realistic, and a bit sweet. Interestingly, this scene was integral in getting the movie an NC-17 rating when it first went through the ratings process, but they fought back and eventually received an R-rating for the movie. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams famously spoke out about the ridiculousness of the NC-17. Gosling saying:
“You have to question a cinematic culture which preaches artistic expression, and yet would support a decision that is clearly a product of a patriarchy-dominant society, which tries to control how women are depicted on screen. The MPAA is okay supporting scenes that portray women in scenarios of sexual torture and violence for entertainment purposes, but they are trying to force us to look away from a scene that shows a woman in a sexual scenario, which is both complicit and complex. It's misogynistic in nature to try and control a woman's sexual presentation of self. I consider this an issue that is bigger than this film.”
And Williams saying:
“The MPAA's decision on Blue Valentine unmasks a taboo in our culture, that an honest portrayal of a relationship is more threatening than a sensationalized one," says Williams. "Mainstream films often depict sex and violence in a manner that is disturbing and very far from reality. Yet, the MPAA regularly awards these films with a more audience friendly rating, enabling our culture's desensitization to violence, rape, torture and brutality. Our film does not depict any of these attributes. It's simply a candid look at the difficulties couples face in sustaining their relationships over time. Blue Valentine opens a door for couples to have a dialogue about the everyday realities of many relationships. This film was made in the spirit of love, honesty and intimacy. I hope that the MPAA will hear our pleas and reconsider their decision.”
They've got a point, and I suggest watching the documentary, "This Movie Has Not Yet Been Rated" to get even deeper into the stupid way movies are rated.
One other point of SSL interest about this movie; there is also a sex scene in which Williams is having sex doggy style with another dude (not Gosling). She's getting a good pounding; and it's straight up P in V. There is no extra clitoral stimulation or any other extras. The dude clearly builds to orgasm and then comes while still inside her. She clearly does not build in arousal or come. That scene (showing penile stimulation of the inside of the vagina) is a realistic portrayal of an act that is not realistically going to bring a woman to orgasm, so I give it props for that too.
All in all, I liked the movie okay. There are aspects that I really, really liked a lot and others that I was luke-warm about, but I would recommend it. It's well worth a watch...especially since it got 5 vulvas for its realistic portrayal of female sexual response, ya'll!
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