| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Adventures in Pornoland
Other // Unrated // October 11, 2011
List Price: $19.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Adventures in Pornoland is yet another entry in the fake documentary format, this time chronicling the goings-on in the adult film industry. Canadian transplants Ethan (Brad Brough) and his fiancee Jaime (Taryn O'Neill) move to Los Angeles with hope in their hearts, but of course the weight of reality is always there to crush their spirits. Their collective goal is for Ethan to take his burgeoning filmmaking/directing background and kick it up a notch career-wise as faithful Jaime grinds it out working as a bartender to make ends meet. With industry work hard to find, Ethan eventually hooks up with his old friend David (Greg Salman), who is currently making a living directing porn. One thing leads to another, and before you know it Ethan is working with David, while Jaime is none too pleased. Drama ensues...
I guess we're supposed to dismiss the obvious questions like why a film crew is following Ethan and Jaime (in fairness the same could be said for The Office), but that gives this its necessary "fake" reality, and actually makes this more interesting than if it were told the "regular" way. The shaky cam sticks its nose into the bickering of Ethan and Jaime, but most importantly onto the shabby sets of low-rent pornos, which is where Adventures in Pornoland seems its most authentic. For those familiar with such things there will be plenty of familiar faces here playing themselves - from Ron Jeremy to Taylor Wane to Kimberly Kane to Dominica Leoni to Herschel Savage - and because of that the behind-the-scenes world of screwing on camera is rife with genuine boredom, arguing and a strictly business-like approach to hardcore carnal knowledge. In other words, it all seems very real.
Salman and Brough - both of whom were involved with the similar Sex TV series - get writer/director credits here, and so little of this seems scripted or guided that they both should get a big pat on the back for the way it flows together. Supposedly, however, it was only Salman, Brough and O'Neill who were acting, while everyone else presumably thought they were part of an actual documentary. Hence, if you believe the hype, the porn cast's acting wasn't acting, but was instead plain old reality. I don't necessarily buy into that pitch; whatever you choose to believe matters little, because either way it doesn't substantially diminish or enhance what goes on. Nearly everything plays genuine - especially the clinical machinations of assembling a porn film - but when Salman and Brough decide to get dramatic in the final act I realized I didn't care all that much.
At one point - after Ethan's initial exposure to the unglamorous porno underbelly - he says "I've seen Boogie Nights and it wasn't like this." That may be true, but Adventures in Pornoland plies much of the same ground, attempting to expose the background and behind-the-scenes of the business end of onscreen sex. There's an uneven quality to the storytelling here, but the auditions and on-set revelations are almost enough to make this worthwhile.
THE DVD
Video
The windowboxed 16:9 certainly won't win any "transfer of the year" awards, but for a film that is supposed to look spontaneous and fly-on-the-wall-ish, the image quality is fairly acceptable. Sure, the colors are drab and murky, edges are often soft and undefined, but the roughness (whether purposeful or not) is less of a distraction for a fake doc flick than it might be were this a "traditional" feature film.
Audio
Audio is presented in a barebones 2.0 stereo format that is befitting of the guerilla/documentary style intended by the filmmakers. Voice quality is decent - sometimes a bit flat - yet discernible throughout, with that "live" feel and all of the natural recording imperfections that come with it.
Extras
Extras include a listenable commentary track from co-directors/writers/actors Greg Salman and Brad Brough - made all the more interesting due to Salman's industry background - as well as a set of five "bonus clips", including an alternate open and some additional nudity. The film's theatrical trailer is also provided.
Final Thoughts
The fake documentary format has been done to death, but for an honest look at the inner-workings of the adult film industry this one seems to be fairly authentic. The dialogue all flows with a believable, natural cadence, though I was less interested in the forced dramatics of the fake doc's final act than with the overall peek behind the porno curtain.
Not great, but still worth a rental.
I guess we're supposed to dismiss the obvious questions like why a film crew is following Ethan and Jaime (in fairness the same could be said for The Office), but that gives this its necessary "fake" reality, and actually makes this more interesting than if it were told the "regular" way. The shaky cam sticks its nose into the bickering of Ethan and Jaime, but most importantly onto the shabby sets of low-rent pornos, which is where Adventures in Pornoland seems its most authentic. For those familiar with such things there will be plenty of familiar faces here playing themselves - from Ron Jeremy to Taylor Wane to Kimberly Kane to Dominica Leoni to Herschel Savage - and because of that the behind-the-scenes world of screwing on camera is rife with genuine boredom, arguing and a strictly business-like approach to hardcore carnal knowledge. In other words, it all seems very real.
Salman and Brough - both of whom were involved with the similar Sex TV series - get writer/director credits here, and so little of this seems scripted or guided that they both should get a big pat on the back for the way it flows together. Supposedly, however, it was only Salman, Brough and O'Neill who were acting, while everyone else presumably thought they were part of an actual documentary. Hence, if you believe the hype, the porn cast's acting wasn't acting, but was instead plain old reality. I don't necessarily buy into that pitch; whatever you choose to believe matters little, because either way it doesn't substantially diminish or enhance what goes on. Nearly everything plays genuine - especially the clinical machinations of assembling a porn film - but when Salman and Brough decide to get dramatic in the final act I realized I didn't care all that much.
At one point - after Ethan's initial exposure to the unglamorous porno underbelly - he says "I've seen Boogie Nights and it wasn't like this." That may be true, but Adventures in Pornoland plies much of the same ground, attempting to expose the background and behind-the-scenes of the business end of onscreen sex. There's an uneven quality to the storytelling here, but the auditions and on-set revelations are almost enough to make this worthwhile.
THE DVD
Video
The windowboxed 16:9 certainly won't win any "transfer of the year" awards, but for a film that is supposed to look spontaneous and fly-on-the-wall-ish, the image quality is fairly acceptable. Sure, the colors are drab and murky, edges are often soft and undefined, but the roughness (whether purposeful or not) is less of a distraction for a fake doc flick than it might be were this a "traditional" feature film.
Audio
Audio is presented in a barebones 2.0 stereo format that is befitting of the guerilla/documentary style intended by the filmmakers. Voice quality is decent - sometimes a bit flat - yet discernible throughout, with that "live" feel and all of the natural recording imperfections that come with it.
Extras
Extras include a listenable commentary track from co-directors/writers/actors Greg Salman and Brad Brough - made all the more interesting due to Salman's industry background - as well as a set of five "bonus clips", including an alternate open and some additional nudity. The film's theatrical trailer is also provided.
Final Thoughts
The fake documentary format has been done to death, but for an honest look at the inner-workings of the adult film industry this one seems to be fairly authentic. The dialogue all flows with a believable, natural cadence, though I was less interested in the forced dramatics of the fake doc's final act than with the overall peek behind the porno curtain.
Not great, but still worth a rental.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||