gratuitous sex scenes

I think the director was trying to convey everything was sleazy. The sex was sleazy, the character were sleazy and disgusting with their scheme to rob from their parents and that kind of thing. At least that's what I got.

I don't like dragged-on sex scenes either. A kiss here and there, door shut and next scene with the two alluding to the fact they had sex is fine.

Perry: "You, stop multiplying!"

I agree with you. Also the opening scene is not necesary at all...

FayeKane:
There is no connection between what Susan said and what you said. I, as a man, don't mind sex scenes when they're done tastefully. I also don't mind them when they're shown to make a point, as in this movie.
However, just because I don't mind the sex scene in the movie doesn't mean I wouldn't feel uncomfortable seeing it with my 18 year old daughter. I don't have a daughter, by the way, but I can put myself in the previous poster's shoes and imagine that, yes, that would be awkward.
There is a certain relationship between a parent and child where something like sex is uncomfortable to discuss or watch on a TV show or movie. If you don't understand that, then I would suggest you have a difficulty in understanding how real relationships work in a family.
Also, as for the US and how we compare to the rest of the world, my position would be that we may be the last holdouts for decency and morality (even though we fail at those things an awful lot). So I'm not concerned that other countries "laugh at us." I've been laughing at other countries for a long time now, so the feeling's mutual.

I'd say both. If you follow the link she posted, you'll see. Warning: it's XXX-type stuff.

Sometimes I recommend movies to my family when I think they are good.
This wasn't a bad movie but I won't recommend it to my mother or she may get the impression I'm trying to make her watch a porn movie with that explicit sex scene as intro.
I also felt the explicit sex scenes were unnessesary to the movie as a whole.
The only reason I can think of is that the director wanted to enstrengthen the betrayal of Hank's relationship with Andy's wife.
But even that is far fetched.

I may have to watch it again but I didn't think the sex was gratuitous. It was smart to open the film at the peak of Andrew and Gina's relationship even if they happened to be having sex. Besides, now that filmmakers can show sex without getting a NC-17 why not exploit it when you have a beautiful actress like Marisa Tomei?

Sex in film is really harped on too much. I realize there are ways to imply sex without actually showing it, like the sex scenes in casablanca, but nudity is a aesthetic choice. If it makes you feel weird then maybe that says more about your insecurities than the exploitative artist whose showing you a intimate moment between two characters who love each other. And what better way to show the audience a characters vulnerable side?

Sex and nudity is simply a color in your paint palate. Some artists use red, others don't. Either is acceptable.

These are some movies of mine. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/lanser87

my god - are people really this prudish? - grow up - if youre so repulsed by sex, you've been brought up unfairly

Not everything needs to be suitable for an 18 year old to watch.

Some important conversations in real life take place when people are naked. And sex acts have bearing on a lot of other things in real life.

Let us adults that recognize that and are not going to have our development warped by it enjoy a little sexuality mixed in with plot, character, etc. while people who want to watch movies with their children look for material to suit them.