Kissing the lipless
After watching the latest episode of Mad Men I just gotta say what an awesome, awesome show that is. It's all the better because it seems to have been building up to this season all along (I don't know if that's true in the sense that the writers thought like that to begin with, though). Watching Don Draper slowly disintegrate has made this season the very best yet. There was something extra cathartic about this latest ep too, claustrophobic, frustrating and hard hitting.
If Mad Men had only been on for two seasons, it would have been such a different show. But comparing Don Draper of season four with his blank, uncaring persona of season one, is what makes him such a fascinating character. His carefully constructed Don Draper-personality has gradually crumbled, until he's just this empty vessel, with nothing but alcohol to fill him. It should be utterly depressing, but it really isn't.
On the fluffy side of the spectrum is that Brazilian movie From Beginning to End, where the idea of brotherly is taken where only Wincesters otherwise would go. It's a beautiful film, but completely void of any real substance. I do love the way they want to hold on to each other all the time, it's very precious.
Anyway, the way these two guys kissed each other made me think of how important kissing is (for me) to sell a romance. Because these guys had a very awkward way of kissing which seemed rushed and not intimate at all, like they were uncomfortable with it or something (even though they also spent a lot of time being naked with each other as well). Immediately I'm drawn out of the movie and start thinking of the actors and how they maybe ARE uncomfortable kissing each other etc etc and the moment is ruined. Unfortunately I've seen this in far too many gay themed movies, the kissing is rushed and awkward looking, making me squirm uncomfortably in my seat.
Another good example of that is Priest, which is one of my favourite movies and where the two guys are engaged in pretty graphic on-screen sex, but in the scenes where they're kissing, it looks awkward. Another example is Brokeback Mountain, where Jack & Ennis kiss violently against a building. In one way it's great because of the way they look at each other in between the kisses, but on the other hand it's too violent and still looks slightly awkward and not like they're enjoying it at all(didn't Jake say he almost broke his nose or something? I do understand that these guys are supposed to be a little rough, though, in several ways). I actually love this particular kiss, in many ways, because it's all so intense, but it also makes me think things like Ouch! which kind of ruins the mood...
I've always LOVED kissing, both in words and on film, it's always been much more alluring and romantic than most sex, to me. And so, awkward kissing ruins a lot for me. I want tenderness! I want the actors to convince me their characters like it! So, what is the problem here? Are the actors more uncomfortable with gay kissing? Are the directors bad at giving directions? What are the best on-screen gay kisses in your opinion?
This entry was originally posted at http://charlidos.dreamwidth.org/520913.html. Comments:
If Mad Men had only been on for two seasons, it would have been such a different show. But comparing Don Draper of season four with his blank, uncaring persona of season one, is what makes him such a fascinating character. His carefully constructed Don Draper-personality has gradually crumbled, until he's just this empty vessel, with nothing but alcohol to fill him. It should be utterly depressing, but it really isn't.
On the fluffy side of the spectrum is that Brazilian movie From Beginning to End, where the idea of brotherly is taken where only Wincesters otherwise would go. It's a beautiful film, but completely void of any real substance. I do love the way they want to hold on to each other all the time, it's very precious.
Anyway, the way these two guys kissed each other made me think of how important kissing is (for me) to sell a romance. Because these guys had a very awkward way of kissing which seemed rushed and not intimate at all, like they were uncomfortable with it or something (even though they also spent a lot of time being naked with each other as well). Immediately I'm drawn out of the movie and start thinking of the actors and how they maybe ARE uncomfortable kissing each other etc etc and the moment is ruined. Unfortunately I've seen this in far too many gay themed movies, the kissing is rushed and awkward looking, making me squirm uncomfortably in my seat.
Another good example of that is Priest, which is one of my favourite movies and where the two guys are engaged in pretty graphic on-screen sex, but in the scenes where they're kissing, it looks awkward. Another example is Brokeback Mountain, where Jack & Ennis kiss violently against a building. In one way it's great because of the way they look at each other in between the kisses, but on the other hand it's too violent and still looks slightly awkward and not like they're enjoying it at all(didn't Jake say he almost broke his nose or something? I do understand that these guys are supposed to be a little rough, though, in several ways). I actually love this particular kiss, in many ways, because it's all so intense, but it also makes me think things like Ouch! which kind of ruins the mood...
I've always LOVED kissing, both in words and on film, it's always been much more alluring and romantic than most sex, to me. And so, awkward kissing ruins a lot for me. I want tenderness! I want the actors to convince me their characters like it! So, what is the problem here? Are the actors more uncomfortable with gay kissing? Are the directors bad at giving directions? What are the best on-screen gay kisses in your opinion?
This entry was originally posted at http://charlidos.dreamwidth.org/520913.html. Comments: