Gregg Araki's "I Want Your Sex" is a return to form for the director, despite not quite hitting all the right notes. This racy workplace sex farce is reminiscent of Halina Reijn's more serious erotic drama "Babygirl," with which Araki has often been compared. The story follows Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), an introverted college graduate who finds himself ensnared by his seductive older boss, Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde).
The film starts as a campy mystery, with Elliot stumbling out of a daze to the mansion swimming pool of his employer only to find her naked and face down in the water. As he's interrogated by detectives, his recollections return to a few months prior, where we're introduced to the movie's major players. Desperate for a job, Elliot applies to be Erika's assistant, where he studies up on her verbose proclamations on modern art – delivered in the nude.
Wilde gives a marvelous performance as an unhinged sex monster whose sociopathic selfishness runs deeper and darker than you might expect. Despite dressing and behaving with a sense of sexual emancipation, her views on erotic photography seem to shift depending on who she's talking to. Meanwhile, Hoffman delivers a physically expressive performance that is both cutesy and comically perplexed.
However, the film's approach to sexuality can be clunky at times, hitting you over the head with finger-wagging conversations that feel self-defeating. Araki positions "I Want Your Sex" as a film of permission to let loose and live, but it's hard not to wonder if this is exactly the right venue for such a statement.
Despite these issues, there's a tremendous amount of fun to be had in the performances, particularly Wilde's, which hides pulsing anxieties in plain sight. The film may not have much to say about sex or relationships, but its livewire comic scenarios yield raucous and sexually charged entertainment seldom seen in Hollywood of late.
"I Want Your Sex" is a welcome departure from the self-imposed norms that stifle sexual expression, despite the cinematic ground broken by Araki and his ilk over several decades. The film may be a reminder that there's still room for raunchy, entertaining trash in the American indie scene – and Wilde delivers it with aplomb.
The film starts as a campy mystery, with Elliot stumbling out of a daze to the mansion swimming pool of his employer only to find her naked and face down in the water. As he's interrogated by detectives, his recollections return to a few months prior, where we're introduced to the movie's major players. Desperate for a job, Elliot applies to be Erika's assistant, where he studies up on her verbose proclamations on modern art – delivered in the nude.
Wilde gives a marvelous performance as an unhinged sex monster whose sociopathic selfishness runs deeper and darker than you might expect. Despite dressing and behaving with a sense of sexual emancipation, her views on erotic photography seem to shift depending on who she's talking to. Meanwhile, Hoffman delivers a physically expressive performance that is both cutesy and comically perplexed.
However, the film's approach to sexuality can be clunky at times, hitting you over the head with finger-wagging conversations that feel self-defeating. Araki positions "I Want Your Sex" as a film of permission to let loose and live, but it's hard not to wonder if this is exactly the right venue for such a statement.
Despite these issues, there's a tremendous amount of fun to be had in the performances, particularly Wilde's, which hides pulsing anxieties in plain sight. The film may not have much to say about sex or relationships, but its livewire comic scenarios yield raucous and sexually charged entertainment seldom seen in Hollywood of late.
"I Want Your Sex" is a welcome departure from the self-imposed norms that stifle sexual expression, despite the cinematic ground broken by Araki and his ilk over several decades. The film may be a reminder that there's still room for raunchy, entertaining trash in the American indie scene – and Wilde delivers it with aplomb.
and cooper hoffman is cute in his own weird way too. but sometimes i feel like araki is relyin too much on shock value rather than really subvertin the norms... 
and it's nice to see someone breakin the mold of what's considered acceptable in hollywood lately. maybe araki isn't tryin to change the world but he's definitely givin us somethin to think about... 
she's like the ultimate sex monster 
!!! cooper hoffman's performance is pretty cool too, i mean who wouldn't get all confused with that many weird vibes from his boss 
. araki's definitely got some issues with sexuality tho, its like he's trying way too hard to be edgy 
. but like, whatever, the movie's still fun and wilde is just straight fire 
! And Wilde's just so much fun to watch, she's got this whole "anxious sociopath" thing down pat 
Interesting how Gregg Araki is trying to push boundaries with "I Want Your Sex" despite some clunky moments 
Olivia Wilde shines as a complex and unhinged character 
I love how the film delivers raucous and entertaining comic scenarios 
. Cooper Hoffman is pretty good too, his reactions are hilarious and you can tell he's trying not to get caught up in Erika's drama 
.
. But, for me, the film feels a bit... off. It's like Gregg Araki is trying to tell us something about sex and freedom, but he's not quite sure how to say it 
. The conversations can feel a bit too preachy or self-righteous, you know? Like, I get it, let's have fun and live a little, but do we need to hit us over the head with it? 
Still, Wilde's energy is infectious, and she totally steals the show 
️
! The campy mystery vibes at the beginning are so funny and lighthearted 
. I'm with you on the film not hitting all the right notes tho...some of the conversations feel a bit preachy 
. BUT overall, it's still SO much fun to watch and Olivia Wilde gives me LIFE 
. But, gotta say, some parts of the film feel like they're trying way too hard to make a statement about sex and freedom 
. It's like Gregg Araki is shouting "look at me, I'm edgy!" instead of just letting the performances speak for themselves 
. Still, it's fun to watch, and Wilde's performance is pure magic 
. Give me more of that! 
! Cooper Hoffman and Olivia Wilde are on point, their chemistry is electric 