Documentary draws an intimate portrait of 'Porn Star'
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Well, this has been an education. Who knew "woodsman" meant something other than a guy in the forest with an ax?
For those of us who haven't previously been witness to adult film star Ron Jeremy's, ahem, body of work, Scott J. Gill's "Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy" is a strangely fascinating experience. Replete with clips from Jeremy's movies and talking-head interviews with porn-industry bigwigs, it's a competent, careful documentary about a man who has everything (according to the whooping frat-boy types who punctuate the film), but ultimately seems to want something else.
Jeremy, a paunchy, puffy-cheeked satyr, has appeared in more than 1,600 "blue movies" and directed about 100 more. In "Porn Star," he comes off as a likable fellow riddled with contradictions. He's said to be one of the richest people in the industry, and yet he lives in a tacky, cluttered penthouse and, while traveling, carries his belongings in garbage bags. He's achieved great fame within the porn realm, but yearns to be accepted as a mainstream actor. He's bedded thousands of women, but expresses wistful hope for a wife and children.
And — this being the reason that every man to whom I mention Jeremy's name grins wickedly — his job consists of having sex with beautiful women, and yet he's no looker. His nickname is "the Hedgehog," and while that's a little cruel, it's not inaccurate. Although Jeremy was fit and handsome in the late '70s when his career began, years of excess have taken a toll (as has an apparent lack of interest in a good haircut).
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The women with whom he performs (and that's the right verb) tend to be squeaky-voiced, well-paid blondes about half his age. Several of them face the camera in "Porn Star" and, giggling, talk about how much they enjoy working with Jeremy. It's all slightly surreal, like cheerleaders discussing the very specific talents of a favorite football player. (Jeremy has a few, ah, special skills, none of which can be described here, and not only because my mother occasionally reads this paper.)
Gill lets Jeremy's voice take hold of the documentary as we're guided through moments in the life of a porn star: shooting a sex scene, waiting for results of a monthly HIV test, walking alone through airports, autographing women's breasts, appearing on talk shows.
Through it all, Jeremy tells us that his goal is to cross over exclusively into mainstream movies. He's appeared in many, but his roles often get cut (because of studio insistence) or are laughably brief. In "Killing Zoe," Jeremy is on screen for approximately three seconds before he gets shot.
But acting skill doesn't seem to be a prerequisite for porn stardom, and Jeremy's crossover is likely an unreachable dream. Looks like he'll stay in the fluorescent-lighted studios of adult film, making movies for directors with names like Seymour Butts. Yes, he's the object of envy, and yes, he gets the girls, but behind the ever-present grin, there's something sad about the guy.
Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com.