Director Steven Soderbergh, known for his edgy yet familiar style in films such as Erin Brockovich, Ocean’s Eleven, and Lucky Logan, has grossed over $2 billion to date. In 2001, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for his crime film Traffic. He is also the director of the upcoming film Magic Mike’s Last Dance starring Channing Tatum. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Soderbergh shared his perspective on making a truly captivating movie.
When asked about recent films that explore purity, Soderbergh emphasized that it’s not about whether a movie is pornographic or not; instead, it’s about exploring the concept of “sexy.” For him, true sexiness lies in intimacy, emotion and vulnerability. He hinted that these elements will be present in the Magic Mike trilogy. Rather than showcasing the beginning of a relationship marked by sheer attraction, Soderbergh prefers to present a couple who have been married for decades and “still love each other.” He believes this type of authentic and lasting connection can be even more seductive than mere physical attraction.
Soderbergh clarified that nudity will not be present in either Out of Sight or Magic Mike’s Last Dance. However, his goal is still to create a sexy movie by focusing on genuine emotion and connection between characters. To him, letting someone inside you emotionally can be just as daunting and thrilling as any physical act.
In conclusion, Soderbergh believes that showcasing long-lasting relationships can be truly radical in today’s cinematic landscape. By emphasizing intimacy and vulnerability over sheer physical attraction, he hopes to create movies that are both provocative and emotionally resonant with audiences.
Why Magic Mike is the Sexiest Franchise (Without Sex)
Despite the excellent choreography involving a stripper and the magic microphone, the plot and main theme of the film have nothing to do with sex. In Magic Mike XXL, Mike Lane (played by Tatum) and the Tampa Kings pave the way for their eventual success, but it’s their rebuilding of trust and openness with each other that lies at the heart of the film. Similarly, Mike and his mistress never engage in any sexual acts, although they do develop a degree of intimacy: Brooke (Cody Hawn) learns to trust Mike as he protects her brother, while Zoe (Amber Heard) distances herself from Mike because of a previous negative experience; eventually, she begins to accept his genuine attempts to help her unburden herself. It’s these moments of connection and vulnerability that make this film so vibrant and engaging – though certainly having such powerful actors is also significant.
Alongside Soderbergh, Tatum will return in Magic Mike’s Last Dance with new co-star Salma Hayek-Pino. Gavin Spokes, Caitlin Gerard, Christopher Bencomo, Ayub Khan Din, and Juliette Motamed will also join the cast as newcomers to the series. In London, Mike meets Michael Sandra Mendoza (Hayek), a wealthy socialite who makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Compared to previous films, Magic Mic’s Last Dance is set to feature more dance scenes; a steamy scene between Mike and McSandra concludes the trilogy. All signs point towards Magic Mic’s Last Dance being the series’ sexiest movie in both traditional and Soderbergh senses – just in time for Valentine’s weekend.
Source: Rolling Stone.