Olivia Wilde Shines in Gregg Araki's 'I Want Your Sex' at Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival is once again the place to be for cinema enthusiasts, and this year, it’s Olivia Wilde who’s stealing the spotlight. In Gregg Araki’s latest X-rated comedy, I Want Your Sex, Wilde delivers a performance that is as daring as it is captivating, alongside Cooper Hoffman in what promises to be a breakout role.
A Campy, Raunchy Take on the Art World
I Want Your Sex is a campy, ridiculous, and utterly raunchy comedy that riffs on the age gap and the wonderful odd-couple chemistry between its two leads. The film follows a scantily clad young man named Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) who finds his lover Erika (Olivia Wilde) floating upside down, naked, in her pool. Elliot, with a bloody nose and smeared lipstick, wearing a frilly pink bra and pants, is in a predicament that Araki masterfully unravels over the course of the film.
Araki flashes back nine-and-a-half weeks to show us how Elliot ended up in this compromising position. The film alternates between key moments from Elliot’s life and deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville. This structure adds a layer of mystery and intrigue that keeps the audience hooked.
Wilde Nails Her Provocative Role
Erika, played by Olivia Wilde, is a provocative artist whose sexually explicit work lines her gallery. The gallery is staffed by pretentious freaks and fashion casualties, making Elliot stand out with his astonishingly style-averse attitude to clothing. Erika is a vamp, a woman whose wardrobe encompasses high fashion and BDSM, and Wilde nails Erika’s appeal from her first introduction. She is a smart, beautiful woman who knows exactly what she’s doing.
Elliot, meanwhile, is in awe of Erika’s reputation. He tells his best friend Apple (Chase Sui Wonders) in hushed tones that Erika was rumored to have “f*cked Vincent Gallo at the New York premiere of The Brown Bunny when she was 18,” one of many good jokes aimed at Araki’s peers. The chemistry between Wilde and Hoffman is palpable, and their interactions are filled with tension and humor.
A Satire on the Art World and Beyond
In some ways, I Want Your Sex is Araki’s gender-reversed Sunset Boulevard. The film is a satire on the art world, filled with pretentious characters and absurd situations. Erika’s gallery is a place where the lines between art and life blur, and the characters are as much a part of the exhibit as the art itself.
Elliot, feeling his prudish girlfriend Minerva (Charlie XCX, cast amusingly against type) is forcing him to cheat, adds another layer of complexity to the story. Minerva’s feeble faked orgasms suggest the singer has an untapped talent for comedy. The art world is an easy target, and Araki doesn’t hold back in his critique of its excesses and absurdities.
Araki’s Tribute to Sundance
Before diving into the film, Araki paid tribute to the late Robert Redford for his foresight in establishing a creative outlet for minorities and outsider artists. Sundance, he said, is a safe space that established him as cinema’s punk poet laureate of Generation X. I Want Your Sex, by contrast, is his outreach to Generation Z, a bold and unapologetic film that pushes boundaries and challenges norms.
The film’s premiere at Sundance marks the 11th time Araki has showcased his work at the festival. His previous racy doomsday cult comedy Kaboom from 2015 set the stage for what fans can expect from I Want Your Sex – a fun, X-rated comedy that doesn’t shy away from the controversial.
Wilde’s Performance: A Standout
Olivia Wilde’s performance in I Want Your Sex is nothing short of stellar. She embodies Erika with a mix of confidence, vulnerability, and mischief that is utterly captivating. Wilde’s ability to navigate the film’s raunchy humor and poignant moments with equal ease is a testament to her versatility as an actress.
Cooper Hoffman, making a significant impact in his debut role, brings a fresh and earnest presence to the film. His portrayal of Elliot, a young man navigating a complex and often confusing world, is both relatable and endearing. The chemistry between Wilde and Hoffman is the heart of the film, and their interactions are the most memorable parts of the story.
A Must-Watch at Sundance
I Want Your Sex is a bold, audacious, and often hilarious film that is sure to be a standout at the Sundance Film Festival. With Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman dominating the screen, and Gregg Araki’s unique vision guiding the narrative, this is a film that doesn’t just entertain but challenges and provokes thought.
As the Sundance Film Festival continues to showcase groundbreaking and boundary-pushing films, I Want Your Sex is a testament to the festival’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in cinema. Don’t miss the chance to witness Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman in a performance that is as daring as it is delightful.
