Mondo Porno

Mondo Porno
2002, VCA Pictures

Reviewed By: Trapper
On: 07/01/05

	Produced by:	Jim Malibu
	Directed by:	Antonio Passolini
	Starring:	Chloe, Tawny Roberts, Nikita Denise, Mercedes Ashley, Nina Ferrari, Mia Smiles, Ruby, Joel Lawrence, Tyce Bune, Steve Hatcher, Pat Myne, Chris Cannon, Jay Ashley, Guy DiSilva, Kyle Stone, Tina Tyler
	Directing:	5
	Production:	5
	Storyline:	4
	Music:	5
	Editing:	4
	Costumes:	5
	Dialogue:	5

The Sex Index ©
Chloe with Joel Lawrence
Ruby with Chris Cannon
Nikita Denise with Tyce Bune and Pat Myne
Mia Smiles with Joel Lawrence
Tawny Roberts with Nina Ferrari
Mercedes Ashley with Kyle Stone, Pat Myne, Guy DiSilva and Jay Ashley
Chloe with Kyle Stone and Steve Hatcher

Review:

As an ardent fan of Anthony Passolini's work, I will admit that I was quite excited to see this movie. Passolini's movies tend to satirize the porn genre, which is at times funny and brilliant. But not only does he have fun with the adult movie industry, he also indulges himself in satirizing society in general. In this movie, he sets his sights on the Bravo Channel's Inside the Actors Studio. Tina Tyler, plays the sexy and erudite hostess of Mondo Porno, Jane Lifson (Passolini didn't try to be cryptic here with the name). Lifson treats us to an interview with the "legendary" Al Prazolam (Joel Lawrence). The entire structure of the movie revolves around the trials and tribulations of Prazolam's porn career. After each dialogue sequence, which could be long-winded at times, we are treated to view Prazolam's directorial work through the years.

First, we begin with 1970's porn. Passolini perfectly captures the grainy look of 70's porn, along with the spoofing of classic porn music of that era. The costumes are dead on with plaid pants, afros, and lots of eye make-up. Lawrence and Chloe heat-up the screen immediately starting with her ferocious blow job and ending with some great anal on a kitchen table as Chloe cums over and over.

Next, we see Al's directorial debut featuring Chris Cannon and Ruby playing anthropologist searching for the missing link. They are lost, out of food, but hungry for sex. Here Passolini takes a shot at the usual poor and stilted acting apparent in so many feature films. The scene is all right, but it shockingly ends with an indelible image of Ron Jeremy twirling his schlong in the wind. Cannon proclaims that they have discovered the missing link after all! True, quite true.

We move to the 90's, which is where we see Al's next feature, It Takes a Cunt. It features the beautiful Nikita Denise playing a cat burglar, who guarantees her freedom by fucking a couple of brainless cops, played by Pat Myne and Tyce Bune. Nikita's DP is going to produce lots of wood, and so does her accent and costume!

Reality TV is spoofed as we see a part of Al's Who Wants To Blow a Millionaire? The voracious Mia Smiles is the lucky contestant and Lawrence is the lucky recipient. If reality TV was this good, then maybe even I would watch it!

Next, we see Al's attempt to duplicate the highly-produced, and soft-focused porn of the 90s. It's like he is trying to copy Andrew Blake's work of this period, full of a lot of slow motion, glossy shots, and pretentious music. The scene wasn't the movie's best, but Passolini's portrayal of that style of porn is exemplary.

The scene featuring the busty Mercedes Ashley playing a prison guard, and screwing a horde of inmates who are on death row is great. Just watching her ride one cock and jacking off a cock in both her hands is phenomenal to say the least. It reminds me of a movie I once saw with Chasey Lain where she did three guys in a prison cell.

Finally, we see Al's attempt at a comeback by spoofing today's structure of a gonzo flick. Aunt Pam returns to play a girl who is "fresh" to the industry. After Al interviews her, she performs her "first" sex act in front of the camera. Again, Chloe is spectacular.

The acting is better than average. It's no accident that Tyler and Lawrence are the stars because they are probably the best actors in the business. Everyone else is pretty good as well. And I say you can never go wrong with a cameo from Ron Jeremy. The tongue-and-cheek-dialogue is outstanding, although it is sometimes trying to be too clever. You have to give the dialogue some credit when it features a line like this: "Man's mind is most open when he has his cock in his hand and a tissue next to him."

Passolini spends an exhaustive time ensuring the sets are perfect from the 70's kitchen scene, to the lavished bedroom of the millionaire's home. He once again finds a way to have a JFK bust in the movie watching the sex, which is probably how JFK would've wanted it. The shots are first-rate as usual as he knows how to focus on the ladies, and transition from ultra-close up to medium shots. The picture is crisp, and the editing flows nicely.

The music plays an important part in a few of the scenes because it helps accentuate the different time periods. From the 70's quasi-Shaft-like rift to the overly-done artistic attempt of glossy-porn, the soundtrack is fantastic.

The costumes are stellar too. Nikita's burglar outfit will have you jacking-off immediately. This is just another piece of detail that Passolini is meticulous about getting right. Let me say also that Tyler looks exquisite, even while wearing studious looking glasses on stage. Too bad she doesn't get naked for us!

Trapper gives this one a 5. Actually, I would give this a 4 ½ but that's only because the dialogue is long at times. Still the sex is ball-draining, and you'll walk away with beautiful thoughts of Chloe, Mia, and Nikita.

The Sex Index ©

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