Sex In Cinema 2014

I am sure I am not the only one who remembers those Sex In Cinema features in Playboy Magazine at the end of every year. Two of four pages of nude scenes from the previous year. Growing up in the eighties, it was really the only way to have a permanent visual, a literal reminder one could keep and hide with the other pictures that were carefully cut, clipped and saved in a safe place. Playboy was of course more focused on the women of the big screen, but from time to time male nudity also slid in.

I often think all those actors pre 1980's who signed nudity clauses in their contracts about what exactly could be shown, and for how, and then slid off their undies for their nude scene. Before the Internet, before DVD or even VHS, actors could pretty much be assured their nude scene would be viewed only by those who went to the movie theatre to see it. Even if their film eventually landed on television, any glimpses of their goods would carefully edited out. Technology has pretty much made those nudity contracts null and void. Even if they didn't intend their penises to be seen, viewers have capped and lightened and freeze framed every hint of skin. Things were exposed that were never intended to be memorialized in pixels and saved in desktop folders and on web pages and blogs.

Technology has most likely prevented and encouraged many actors from taking it all off. Internet comments tend to flow (although not on FH...) swiftly to the negative. Any actor who exposes his penis is especially primed for comments and about it's size and those who suspect it has been digitally enhanced. That may have been why Jamie Dornan keep his mostly in his pants in 50 Shades Of Grey (above) and why so many think Ben Affleck had a wee bit of digital dick enhancement in Gone Girl. (below)

Ben Affleck in Gone Girl

I tend to believe that most of what I see is real. I may be very but the entire point of going to the movies is suspending belief, so little Ben is as big and alive to me as Godzilla or Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy. Little, or maybe more on point, long Ben, was one of the highlights of male nudity in film this past year. Here are are a few other other Academy Award connected scenes of male nudity on film from last year.

Edward Norton in Birdman

Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher

Below: Oscar nominated Still Alice star Julianne Moore had another role last year in David Cronenberg's Maps To The Stars. In this scene, Moore has a threesome with the delicious Jonathan Watton sandwiched in the middle.