nerve Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Ever since I decided to watch all 8 episodes of the HBO show Tell Me You Love Me this weekend (not the greatest idea, mind you), not only am I searching for a therapist but I also have sex on the mind (how could you not after watching that show?).Over at Nerve, they've gone ahead and satisfied their ever-growing sex addictions by putting together a list comparing the sex scenes in a number of films that have been fortunate enough to undergo the remake treatment over the years. This list is part of their new Film Issue, which happens to contain a plethora of sex-related stuff like sex advice from movie extras, a piece on Fast Times at Ridgemont High as it relates to teenage lust, and something on Ken Russell's phallic fixation ... among other things. But it was this list -- on sex scenes -- that I found the most interesting.

For example, you'd think the obvious choice would be to always side with the original, not the remake. But when it comes to L'Ultimo Bacio, otherwise known as The Last Kiss when it was re-made here in the states starring Zach Braff, it's the remake's sex scene that ultimately wins out. Yes, Zach Braff managed to provide a hotter, steamier sex scene than the very sexy Italian actor Stefano Accorsi (oh, and Rachel Bilson ... words cannot express the thoughts I had while, um ... nevermind). Among some of the films discussed are Swept Away (1974) vs. Swept Away (2002), The End of the Affair (1955) vs. The End of the Affair (1999), Alfie (1966) vs. Alfie (2004) and Open Your Eyes (1997) vs. Vanilla Sky (2001) -- both of which featured a very topless Penelope Cruz. Of course, the folks at Nerve do help you out a bit by providing clips of each sex scene so that you, at home, can decide which was better: the original or the remake. Yes, and that also means there is some NSFW nudity, so keep that in mind before you go clicking like a mad man (or woman).

[Thanks Lauren]

I remember back when Marilyn Manson was gaining in popularity, there was a rumor going around that claimed he was in fact the same dude who played Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano) on The Wonder Years. And then that rumor turned into another one that had Josh Saviano playing drums for Manson, instead. Of course it wasn't true, and having met Saviano a couple times, I can honestly tell you the guy is not Manson, nor his drummer, but is currently a married attorney living in New York City. Oh, but it was one helluva fun rumor while it existed.

Nerve.com has assembled the 40 greatest celebrity rumors of all time, and some of them go way back (Clara Bow slept with an entire football team?), while others are more current (does baby Suri actually exist?). By now, you're probably wondering which rumor Nerve chose to stick in the number one spot. Well, let's just say it's the one that involves Richard Gere and his pet gerbil. Yuck. Marilyn Monroe pops up a couple times, as does Hitler (wait, he's a celebrity?) and his one testicle. Oh, and there's also the one about Jamie Lee Curtis having both male and female parts. I swear I'm not making this stuff up -- my imagination does not stretch that far. The one celebrity rumor that's not on there -- and I have no idea how it didn't make their list -- was, perhaps, one of the biggest rumors of all time ... is Elvis still alive? Or even the one that claimed Andy Kaufman was still alive and playing his greatest practical joke on all of us. However, they do include Elvis and Kaufman in the "Jim Morrison is alive" rumor, so I imagine they wanted to stick all the "death rumors" in one spot. But still? Elvis? C'mon, Nerve!

Check out the list, then come back here and let us know your favorite celebrity rumors of all time.

Ah, Sunday. Nothing much going on news-wise to report on, but it's a great day to kick back with a nice cup of coffee and catch up with what's going on around the world of other film blogs and film sites. Think of it as a Film Blog Group Hug, Sunday Edition.

Over on Film Threat, Paul Goebel wonders: When did Jim Belushi became such a douche?

Who says cinephiles aren't social animals? Sure, we may spend a great deal of our time with our butts planted firmly on couches and in theater seats, but we like to talk about film too, and unless you have multiple personalities that all get along, you need other people to talk to. If you don't want to leave the comfort of home for stimulating conversation, though, here are some online options to check out:

Nerve.com has launched the Nerve Film Lounge, where you can check out film reviews and interviews and chat about your opinions.

There's also indieWIRE's social networking site, indieLOOP, where you can form groups, join groups, talk about your film or other people's films, hook up with friends who are going to festivals, and more.

If you're a filmmaker, or you just really love film, you might want to check out IKlipz, where you can upload and watch short films. IKlipz members can view uploaded films, rate them, and discuss them with other members. Just this morning, I treated myself to a viewing of The Intervention, by the Duplass Brothers (they of The Puffy Chair) -- a 14 minute or so about a group of friends holding an "intervention" that has more under the surface that it first appears. Check it out.

Over at Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule, you can put those summer doldrums to rest and flex your brain muscle by taking Professor Julius Kelp's Endless Summer Chemistry Test. Which questions like "Is it possible to know with any certainty if you could like or love someone based partially on their taste in movies? If so, what film might be a potential relationship deal-breaker for you, or the one that might just seal that deal?", you're sure to have fun with it. [ via Green Cine Daily ]

Joe Swanberg, the driving force behind Kissing on the Mouth and LOL, basically doesn't sleep. Even as he follows both of his features around the country on the festival circuit, he's somehow found the time to write, direct, produce and star in Young American Bodies, one of the initial offerings of Nerve.com's just-launched Nerve Video portal. Bodies is a lot like Kissing -- in that it's basically concerned with the sex lives of a gaggle of self-absorbed 20-somethings -- but snappier, soapier, and chopped up into time-release capsules for easy consumption. Of the three episodes currently available, my favorite is the second, Ben's Night Out, in which the sudsier elements really start to take off. It doesn't seem to be enabled yet, but soon you'll be able to vote for your favorites right on Nerve. So go forth and check them out. Actually, maybe wait a couple of hours -- it's definitely not safe for work.