Monday

Tuna
"Ridicule"

Ridicule (1996) is a French period costumer that, I think, was intended as a comedy. Charles Berling, although a noble by birth, is a country hick, but an engineer, with a very quick mind. He travels to Versailles in an effort to get royal financing for a project to drain the swamps in his home territory, and end the poverty and disease there. He is robbed on his way into Versailles, and taken in by a doctor well placed at court, but soon finds that he has little chance of access to the king through official channels, as the path to him is blocked by those trying to stop royal spending. He also learns that the wit is the true ruler at Versailles, and when his doctor friend realizes that he has just the sort of sharp wit that is popular, and can increase the doctors influence at court, he becomes his sponsor.

Meanwhile, Berling gains a love interest in the the doctor's daughter, Judith Godrèche, and makes advances to the most influential woman at court, Fanny Ardant. A lot of supposed witty dialogue and court intrigue ensues, Berling is eventually embarrassed at court, and then all the jerks at court lose their heads or flee to England during the French revolution.

The flim opens with Berling's character taking his pecker out and peeing on the now aged man that insulted him and caused his court disgrace. Then, we see Ardant nude from the rear, being given a powder bath. A very promising start for nudity but that was the last of it. We did get several looks at Godrèche's cleavage.

IMDB readers have this at an amazing 7.3 of 10. Ebert awards 3 1/2 stars, and Berardinelli 3 stars. Critics, overall, were 60% positive, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Everyone seemed impressed with this story because it shows how important and powerful the word can be. I also have a clever and witty word for it, and it is even French -- merde. Still, this is not my sort of film. The proper score evidently is C to C+, but I never would have guessed that.

  • Thumbnails
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  • Fanny Ardant (1, 2)
  • Judith Godreche (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

    "Sleep with Me"

    Sleep with Me (1994) is an extreme low budget made as one of those collaborative efforts. Six different writers each wrote a major scene, then they filmed it. To glue them together, they used placards, much like the old vaudeville shows used placards for exposition. The plot is simple. Three best friends, Meg Tilly and Eric Stoltz, who have been living together, get married with the apparent blessings of their best friend, Craig Sheffer. Turns out that Sheffer and Tilly have always had an unspoken thing for each other, and it eventually surfaces.

    The nudity is provided by Parker Posey, who shows her breasts in a sex scene with Stoltz. Quentin Tarantino does a cameo as a movie bore at a party, making an impassioned case for Top Gun being the best script of all time, because it is an allegory of the lure of homosexuality. That may have been the most humorous element of the film.

    IMDB readers have it at 5.5 of 10. Ebert enjoyed some moments, and gave it 2.5 stars. It only received a 33% positive from Rotten Tomatoes. I was not very impressed with either the plot or the execution, even though generally I enjoy many of the cast members. Call it an ultra low budget experiment with a few moments that work, and it is a C-.

  • Thumbnails

  • Parker Posey (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

  • Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy)

    Movies from Shiloh:

    Perhaps these tips will help if you have trouble with the codecs:

    Shiloh says:

    FYI when I hypercam vids to make the file size smaller I use DivX MPEG-4 Fast-Motion for the video compressor, then I use virtualdub to compress the audio. The properties for the vids says the video codec:  DivX Decoder Filter & audio codec:  Morgan Stream Switcher which I'm not familiar with. When I compress the audio with virtualdub I use MPEG Layer-3.  A friend of mine told me about compressing the audio about (6) mos. ago. Like I said previously, only been capping for a year & a half & I'm no expert. Hopefully this info will help members with the proper codecs for my vids.
     
    When I cap big brother's I use hypercam mostly & sdp & asfrecorder if the set up allows me. I stopped using camtasia cause the file sizes were always too big, could never figure out the process, over my head lol, plus it cost too much to buy in my opinion.
    A reader says:

    You mentioned that some users were having trouble with the videos on your site. There is a tool designed to determine what codec is needed for a video. http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ Hope this is useful to you or your users.

    Scoop says:

    I made .wmv versions of each video -  I do know the codecs for these - Windows Video V8, Windows Audio 9. The upside of these is that you know the codecs, and they'll play in the Windows Media Player. The downside is that they are slightly larger, and slightly lower quality.

     

    Today's roster:

    • Alex Kingston has it all. Beautiful woman, good actress, looks good naked, does full frontal nudity. Essex Boys isn't a great movie, but C2000 rated it above average, and Tuna liked it a lot. (His review, ""C+ as a thriller, with A+++ nudity"). Here is the review page for The Essex Boys. Although nobody saw the film, this still made the list of the best sex scenes of the year 2000. The DVD is a gorgeous transfer, and Alex looks even more incredible on the DVD than she does in this clip. (.avi version, .wmv version).

    • Alex Kingston also did frontal nudity The Croupier. This film has the opposite set of characteristics from Essex Boys - terrific movie, some of the best voice-over monologues ever written for the classic film noir lonely antihero, but I keep waiting for a good DVD. So far, no luck. Here is the review page for The Croupier, which includes some good quotes from the film. (.avi version, .wmv version).

    • You voted Emma Thompson and Jeff Goldblum's funny sex scene from The Tall Guy as one of the Top 20 most realistic looking sex scenes of all time. It is both silly and sexy, a rare combination. Tuna and I split on the film. I think it is an underrated classic, and I was howling out loud when I saw the musical version of The Elephant Man. Tuna didn't think it was very funny. Here is the review page for The Tall Guy. (.avi version, .wmv version).

    • Sarah Michelle Gellar for "Holding Your Own Boobs Magazine" on SNL (windows media only)

    • Andrea Thompson on Arli$$ (.avi version, .wmv version, .jpg capture).

    • Maria Bello showed her breasts and buns in clear light in the offbeat drama The Cooler. Pretty cool movie. This scene made the list of the best sex scenes of the year 2003. Here is the review page for The Cooler. (.avi version, .wmv version).

    • Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. If you don't know about this, why are you reading this page? Quite good quality and picture size, but small file size. Warning: these clips are not a Newman-free zone. Windows .wmv versions only (1) Stone flashes a beaver shot at Newman (2) Stone gets naked in front of an open window as MD watches.

     


     

    UPDATES:

    • Twenty four Encyclopedia entries were updated. (See yellow highlights on the Encyclo page, which also include the sixteen updated yesterday)

     

     

    OTHER CRAP:

     

    Other Crap archives. May also include newer material than the ones above, since it's sorta in real time.

    Click here to submit a URL for inclusion in Other Crap

     

     

    MOVIE REVIEWS:

    Here are the latest movie reviews available at scoopy.com.

    • The yellow asterisks indicate that I wrote the review, and am deluded into thinking it includes humor.
    • If there is a white asterisk, it means that there isn't any significant humor, but I inexplicably determined there might be something else of interest.
    • A blue asterisk indicates the review is written by Tuna (or Junior or Brainscan, or somebody else besides me)
    • If there is no asterisk, I wrote it, but am too ashamed to admit it.

    Graphic Response
    • Jill Clayburgh, topless and wearing undies in scenes from the 1978 movie, "An Unmarried Woman".

    Be sure to pay Graphic Response a visit at his website. www.graphic-barry.com.

    Hankster
    'Caps and comments by Hankster:

    A bit of variety today...

    First up a couple of caps of Phoebe Cates in her classic topless scene from 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", priceless to say the least.

    • Phoebe Cates (1, 2)


    Moving to the Television side , we have Jenna Elfman with a fishnet leg show and a bit of cleavage on "Last Call".

    • Jenna Elfman (1, 2, 3)


    An speaking of Television, the delectable Kelly Ripa put on a leg show of her own on a recent "Conan".

    • Kelly Ripa (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

    Mister Grundy
    'Caps and comments by Mister Grundy:

    Grundy a Go-Go!

    • Rachel Nord is the heroine in RACHEL'S ATTIC, a 2002 indie shot in Detroit. She could never forgive herself for allowing what seems to be a child molestor (in the form of the film's sole star, Gunnar "Leatherface" Hansen) dragging off her sister while they were girls. Now that her sister is once again in danger -- she appears to have been part of a snuff movie-- Rachel is determined to rescue her. The actress was unwilling to shed much clothing in her debut performance.

    • Nancy Walters is Emily, Rachel's sister. She appears as a heartless dominatrix, before getting trapped in her own house with the "serial killer." The actress had a minor role in a teen comedy two years prior, and also works in post production. as she appeared in MORGAN THE PIRATE (1961); She had an eye for the swashbuckler, as played by Steve Reeves.

    • Kathy Gauthier is another dominatrix in RACHEL'S ATTIC, baking cookies for her slave locked up in a closet... before the killer catches up with her. So far, her sole screen credit.

    • Alicia Bewernitz plays yet another dominatrix, who shows Rachel the ropes... as the latter attempts to infiltrate this underworld, where her sister was last connected. She was also in 2003's MUTANT SWINGER FROM MARS.

    • Christine Offill appears to have been hired for her willingness to go topless, briefly seen as a snuff film victim in RACHEL'S ATTIC.

    • Ullabella Johansson is Elise in 1969's SCANDAL IN DENMARK (DER KOM EN SOLDAT), an updated version of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, "The Tinder Box." The lovely actress plays a shy and sheltered countess who is the object of a soldier's affection; he arranges to have her brought to his bedroom after being drugged. When she awakens, she completely picks up on the soldier's lovemaking motions. Ms. Johansson appears not to have had any other screen role.

    • Helen Hovey is another actress who unfortunately was a one-trick-pony; as with the previous entry, Ms. Hovey brings forth a natural essence of innocence in 1963's surprisingly well done cult film, THE SADIST -- co-starring Arch Hall, Jr. As one of three teachers who is terrorized by an isolated road stop, she's a very good performer as well. There is no nudity.

    • Marilyn Manning is Judy, the simple-minded "moll" of the title's THE SADIST. She is the forerunner of the same sort of character from such films as NATURAL BORN KILLERS and, to a lesser extent, BADLANDS. In fact, all these films were based on a Bonnie and Clyde pair of serial killers from the period, Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Ms. Manning is also known for her work as the heroine threatened by Richard Kiel in EEGAH, made the previous year. (Also teamed with Arch Hall, Jr., as the hero.) She holds her own very well. The cinematography, by the man who would shoot (and win an academy award for) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, is striking. No nudity here.


    As always, Mister Grundy invites you to visit his yahoo forum, Sick Sexy Sinema Shots

    PAL
    Charlotte Rampling
    (1, 2)

    The cult favorite showing brief breast and bum views in scenes from "Radetzkymarsch". There's not that much to see here, but I haven't seen this before.

    Jacqueline Bisset

    Anya Sartor

    Serna Assumpta
    (1, 2)

    All 3 ladies in scenes from the Zalman King movie "Wild Orchid" (1990). Bisset shows pokies, Sartor goes full frontal and Assumpta is topless.

    Oz
    'Caps and comments by Oz:

    "The Making of the Pirelli Calendar 2004"
    They now have a habit of making a movie about how the Pirelli calendar is produced. This year's calendar has a female theme (go to the Pirelli site to find out what I mean) and has some lovely naked ladies. The named models are Adina Fohlin (my favourite and I think the photographer thought so too), Ai Tominga, Alek Wek, Amanda Moore, Dewi Driegen, Esther de Jong, Frankie Rayder, Jessica Miller, Karolin Kurkova, Liberty Ross, Maria Carla Boscono, Natalia Vodianova, and Polyanna McIntosh.


    "Rentadick"
    Back 30 years to a British film called Rentadick, made in the mould of all the Carry On films of the same era. You manage to see Julie Ege's nipple but not much else.

    • Julie Ege (1, 2, 3, 4)


    "Johnny Be Good"
    The topless nudity in Johnny Be Good comes from Traci-Ann Dutton and twins Karen and Barbara Cecka. Sexy views of Lucianne Buchanan and an unnamed exotic dancer. Hayley Ladner is supposed be a cheerleader that has removed her knickers, but as you can see there is something underneath.


    "The Musketeer"
    Mena Suvari takes a bath in The Musketeer but nothing is visible.

    • Mena Suvari (1, 2)


    "Mean Streets"
    There is full nudity by Amy Robinson in Mean Streets. Jeannie Bell is an erotic dancer but has pasties keeping the goodies hidden.

    • Amy Robinson (1, 2, 3, 4)
    • Jeannie Bell (1, 2, 3)


    "Semi-tough"
    Underwear and cleavage in Semi-tough by Jill Clayburgh and some unnamed actresses.

    • Jill Clayburgh (1, 2)
    • Unknowns (1, 2)


    "Orange County"
    Some sexy caps of Jane Adams when she goes around in her underwear with Leslie Mann there for reference purposes.

    Variety
    Holly Hunter
    (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

    'Caps by the Skin-man of Hunter topless and showing pubes in scenes from "Thirteen". I gotta say that for a woman in her mid 40's she still looks great nude!