I know what you’re thinking. “There’s a film where Emily Browning shows more skin than she does in Sucker Punch!?” Yes, yes there is. And just like Sucker Punch, it’s hard to watch and banks on exploitation. In defense of Sleeping Beauty, asking Emily Browning to carry a film with her acting alone is –how shall I put this?- laughable.
College student Lucy (Browning) collects jobs, dicks, and ill will. Not all at the same time, of course, but don’t put it past her. She seems mostly a passive player in her life, rarely showing emotion and treating intercourse with the same enthusiasm that she collates copies at her desk job. Responding to an ad for high quality sex workers, she figures, “gee, why not get paid for this stuff?” Actually, I have no idea what she figures; her body language reveals nothing about this choice. She simply shows up in a classy lounge where she’s told to strip and prospective madam Clara (Rachael Blake) introduces her to the world of R-rated Silver Service – basically, an old monied dude throws a dinner party where the extensive young female staff all serve the event in lingerie or less. But, hey, don’t worry, “no penetration is allowed.” (House rules)
If I’d seen this film when I was 15, it might have made my top 100 all-time list.
The stage direction for the dinner party has a life of its own – I have to imagine the pre-dinner instructions: “You, in the white half-bra, stand there for an hour. You, ‘C cup,’ be a table. You, topless blonde, pretend you’re a painting.” This might be the one dinner party in which the wait staff get paid more than the caterer. But, hey, don’t worry, “no penetration is allowed.”
Lucy gets a call-back. Yay? This time, she is asked to slip into nothing less comfortable and take an elixir that induces sleep. And when she’s knocked out and naked in bed, some 
unknown suitor has his way with her. If you aren’t already disturbed by the voluntary roofie, Sleeping Beauty has provided us with several examples of what happens while she’s out. Goody. Remind yourself you’re watching a film. But, hey, don’t worry, “no penetration is allowed.”
I’m not going to dismiss this film outright. For instance, I much appreciate the way it cut straight to sexual imagery with neither shame nor modesty. We just don’t get that in American film – or certainly not often. However, we’re talking about a film where a young woman voluntarily gives up control of her body fully knowing slimy individuals are going to take advantage of it. No, it’s not rape; there’s clear consent – but that doesn’t make it right, either. Another huge weakness is the Sleeping Beauty herself – Emily Browning is simply not a good enough (or wasn’t at this time a good enough) actress to command a screen while fully dressed. Until the final ten minutes, I had no idea how she felt about anything going in the movie. For instance, why did she keep her two crappy jobs after she was making serious coin? And why did she wait to aggravate her landlord instead of just paying rent? And why does it take her so long to decide she actually wants some control over her body? I think a better script, better director, or better actress could have answered some of these questions.
♪Picture yourself eating almonds a-sliver
Near lingeried dolls with sweet lady thighs
Somebody walks by, you ogle quite slowly
The girl with unfastened ties
Cater-ed dishes of yellow and green
Don’t care what chef has prepared
Look for the girl in the white bustier
And she’s gone
Lucy with some guy so slimy
Lucy and a creature so grimy
Lucy’s free tonight? “Well, blimey!” ♫
Not Rated, 101 Minutes
D: Julia Leigh
W: Julia Leigh
Genre: Classy porn
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: 15-year-old me
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Oh boy, just name it. Prudes, people with taste, anybody who objects to selling sex, anybody who objects to drugged sex … that covers a fair amount of ground, I daresay.
♪ Parody inspired by “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
