Deep Throat will always hold its place in movie history. Not because it was particularly good-it’s actually, a piece of shit- and not because their cast got well off after the production either, but because it really launched the sexual revolution and how it would be portrayed on film from then on. I mean, we’re talking about blow jobs here…and other sex stuff of course, but fucking blow jobs. Pretty unheard of back then, so you could imagine why Deep Throat would be so important now and, well, always- Cause it gave Americans the freedom to watch blow jobs.
Anyways….Lovelace. That film. It was pretty surprising that there would even be a movie about Deep Throat star Linda Lovelace. Yes, she was, obviously, the talent in Deep Throat, but not much really happened to her after naughty pic. Lets just say that her filmography isn’t much of a looker, but that is actually why it was genius for Lovelace to be created- Because her story has never been told really.
Set in the early 70s, Lovelace stars Amanda Seyfried (who I never took seriously until watching this) is Linda Lovelace, a goody girl living with her parents and dreaming of escape. The kind of escape that comes her way though, might not be what she expected, and comes in the form of an older Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard) whose got all the goods: some money, some charm, some attractiveness, and some intrigue. I’ repeating the word “some” because he ain’t no Ryan Gosling- he’s just guy you wouldn’t mind banging in the kitchen while your family is in the living room watching TV.
The two elope, and the following years of married life because harder and harder for Linda to take in. First, he’s in jail for dealing; then he’s been a dick, and, well, dicking around. Then he starts pimping her. It’s sad, hard to watch, and obviously the final straw for most women, but Linda Lovelace isn’t most women: She is the poster child of the battered wife who needs to leave now. Unfortunately, she is also the daughter of some conservative suburbans who insist she stay married. According to her mom, Linda made the bed and now she needs to sleep in it.
Of course, her family isn’t completely aware of all the horrors Chuck puts Linda through, which also include pimping her out as a porn star. Their first film- or maybe second, cause rumor has it there’s a dog-on-Linda porn out there somewhere- is Deep Throat, showcasing Linda’s great ability to give head that will even make Adam Brody cum in a minute’s time. She’s love, she’s a star, but that’s not enough for Chuck, who grows increasingly more violent and jealous as the movie progresses.
After some very close calls, and a second look back for the audience, showing us how the first half of the film really was, Linda is now trying to leave Chuck with her life. Chuck has full control of her career and her finances, and now that Linda’s done a porn, she’s not exactly welcomed back in the arms of her parents. She is truly fucked.
It is a sad affair, and one that probably you din’t know about (I know I didn’t before watching this). It is also a very comforting film for anyone who has ever been in Linda’s position, in one way or another. You shake your head with disbelief, and you also give Linda the “sorry eye”, thinking to yourself: “Girl, you need to leave that man now!” But the more you watch, the more you feel connected to Seyfried’s character. She is a joy, but realistically a common joy: The type of girl who got swept by a man too fast and is now suffering the consequences. It is a story told too many times before, and will no doubt be told again.
It is hard to say, “I enjoyed Lovelace,” because I don’t believe anyone can really enjoy watching this story unfold. It was, though, well done, and even the back-and-forth sequence gives the film an extra touch, something to bring us back to reality without being to forceful.
Seyfried and Sarsgaard are so fucking talented in this. This almost made me hate Sarsgaard, and sometimes now when I watch him in other things, I can’t feel but a bit of hate for him still. That’s how much his performance will echo for you.
Lovelace only generated mere $1.5 million, which is pocket change compared to its $12 million budget, but really, is that the point? This movie is on Netflix, and though you might not be rushing to watch such a depressing film, it is still important to watch. This actually happened, and though when you think 70s you think all good and fun, its nice to be reminded of the bitter sweet reality of the porn industry.
