Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman Shine in Gregg Araki’s Playful X-Rated Comedy at Sundance Film Festival
Gregg Araki Returns to Sundance with New Film, ‘I Want Your Sex’
Filmmaker Gregg Araki is back on the Sundance stage with his latest film, I Want Your Sex, after last gracing the festival with his 2015 doomsday cult comedy, Kaboom. Known for exploring themes of sex, money, and violence, Araki took a moment at his eleventh Sundance premiere to honor the late Robert Redford for creating a cultural space that champions minority and outsider artists, elevating him to the role of Generation X’s punk poet laureate.
Araki’s newest work aims to resonate with Generation Z. I Want Your Sex is described as a campy and playful exploration of the age gap and chemistry between its leads, which invites audiences to experience a fun yet risqué narrative.
In I Want Your Sex, the story unfolds with a twisted homage to Sunset Boulevard. The film opens with Elliot, played by Cooper Hoffman, discovering his lover, Erika (Olivia Wilde), floating upside down in her pool, naked. Elliot, disheveled with a bloody nose and dressed in women’s lingerie, is quickly interrogated by police officers played by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville, showcasing Araki’s flair for unconventional casting.
Erika is characterized as an avant-garde artist with provocative work lining her gallery, where fashion faux pas become apparent as Elliot’s style contrasts starkly with the pretentious individuals surrounding them. Wilde embodies Erika’s allure from her first appearance, presenting a smart and aware character who manages to be both captivating and critical. Elliot’s admiration for Erika leads to humorous exchanges, including whispers of her notorious past involving indie filmmaker Vincent Gallo.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” Erika asks, intentionally crossing a line. This question sets the stage for a no-strings-attached affair that allows her to mock Elliot’s contemporaries as “whiney, repressed weaklings.” Meanwhile, Elliot grapples with his conservative girlfriend, Minerva (played by Charli XCX), adding further layers of complexity to his character.
The film offers incisive commentary on the art world, where Erika unapologetically deconstructs notions of artistic value. Araki critiques the pretentiousness of contemporary art through Erika’s dismissive remarks, claiming, “Contemporary art is a scam.” Through this lens, sexuality also receives a playful examination, as Araki has consistently portrayed it across a spectrum of identities and experiences.
Despite its explicit themes, I Want Your Sex shows promise in appealing to broader audiences, particularly as Elliot’s explorations in BDSM lead to bizarre yet relatable scenarios. Viewers may find themselves reflecting on their own romantic dilemmas, particularly the complexities of loving someone deemed unsuitable.
Title: I Want Your Sex
Festival: Sundance (Premieres)
Sales: Black Bear Pictures
Director: Gregg Araki
Screenwriters: Karley Sciortino, Gregg Araki
Cast: Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, Charli XCX
Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins
