By Gary Geyer
Time was you had to be beautiful, have a great body and be under 30 to be naked in the movies.
My, how times have changed
If You Are Over 50, Skin Is In.
The reasoning seems to be that nudity involving older actors (and actresses) is erotic because being nude over 50 is rare in films.
Not just nudity, sex too.
It’s not just nudity — it’s sex, as well.
Last year, Diane Keaton was seen full frontal for a nanno second in “Something’s Gotta Give.” Jack Nicholson, in the same movie, shows a bit of butt. Then there was William H. Macy in “The Cooler”, and Ann Reid in “The Mother”, appearing nude or semi-nude in love scenes. Even Anthony Hopkins, who is in his seventies, shows (as one critic calls it) “a pec or two” in his love scenes with Nicole Kidman in “The Stain.”
So far, nobody has ever had a career ruined by being sexy.
The “Everyman” Quality.
It is not uncommon to find that many older actors and actresses who appear nude today, closely resemble the audiences that are watching them.
Many directors believe audiences want to see older, more realistic bodies in love scenes. Jane Campion (who directed Meg Ryan in “The Cut”) has said, “I love all sorts of odd different bodies. When seeing too many perfect bodies becomes routine, seeing real-looking bodies in sex scenes becomes titillating.”
Clint Cullpepper, the president of Screen Gems, has said, “I think there are trends in films and we’re definitely seeing one here. Mature sex on screen between a mature man and a woman is erotic because it hasn’t been seen much. It could be part of a new wave, yeah, and I think it’s about time.”
Better living through chemistry.
Chuck Binder, a Los Angeles talent manager points out that with plastic surgery and Botox, many more older actors and actresses can do nude scenes. He says, “They look like they’re 30, and what doesn’t look great, edit around it.”
Most actors would agree that trusting the director is of the utmost importance but some have clauses written into their contract that state they will have final say as to what is shown.
Michael Barker, a head of Sony Pictures Classics, says he believes in pushing the boundaries and added emphatically, “Passion is not just something for the impulsive young.”
Now, Don’t Get Too Excited.
Timothy Gray, the managing editor of Variety said, “I do think the pendulum is swinging, but don’t expect an onslaught of pudgy middle-aged sex. Audiences, however, are accepting that is okay to look normal and have sex.”
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