Babygirl

It’s getting hot in here

Seven years ago, I wrote about the worrisome absence of sex in American movies. Everything must indeed be a cycle since it looks like sex is back in style. To name just two examples, Queer depicts explicit gay sex, and now writer-director Halina Reijn and star Nicole Kidman bring us Babygirl, the story of a successful woman entrepreneur obsessed with kinky thoughts. Mind you, the directors of both films are European, but the movies feature major Hollywood stars, so let’s count our blessings.

My viewing companions said that Babygirl reminded them of 9 1/2 Weeks but Babygirl is far more interesting and provocative, not just kink-lite softcore eye candy. It is told and experienced from the woman’s point of view and it features complicated characters. This is a crucial difference with the Mickey Rourke/Kim Basinger romp, a sexy postcard with two very good looking stars playing characters without character. Does anyone remember what they did for a living? The people in Babygirl lead real lives.

Nicole Kidman is fearless and phenomenal as Romy, a CEO at a corporation that automates processes (or something) and like most corporations, pays lip service to women breaking the glass ceiling. Romy is loaded, happily married to a way too civilized husband (Antonio Banderas — I love it when female characters in movies get to feel conflicted about shagging TWO…