Shia LaBeouf turns nymphomaniac - but it's all in the name of art

It is a rare occasion these days when I’m actually shocked by any media goings on. Whether it’s comedian Frankie Boyle happily poking fun at disabled children, women prancing around practically naked in what feels like every single contemporary music video, it seems to me there’s an almost blasé attitude when it comes to the proverbial line being crossed in popular culture. In fact, I’m not sure there even IS a line anymore. So imagine my surprise when a news story this week did actually result in a distinct eyebrow raise and small gasp on my part. Hollywood actor and star of the Transformers franchise Shia LaBeouf revealed he may partake in some real, unsimulated sex scenes for a film entitled Nymphomaniac from controversial director Lars Von Trier.

However, straight after my initial gasp of surprise, cynicism set in. This constant shock factor pursuit is getting a bit tiresome for me. I’m not entirely sure what they are trying to achieve with this latest project. Last time I checked Shia was a relatively credible movie star who doesn’t need any extra exposure (see what I did there) despite his claims that he wants to do this to push himself as an actor. The idea seems artistically barren - isn’t this just porn masquerading as a ground-breaking indie film?

I anticipate many people won’t want to see this film for its artistic credentials (whatever they may be) but more for the controversy surrounding the project. In the same way some of us are guilty of flicking through 50 Shades of Shite – sorry, I mean, Grey – in a bid to join in with everyone else, or like the time I had a browse online at ticket prices to see Equus on stage in London for no other reason than the possibility of seeing Daniel ‘Harry Potter’ Radcliffe naked. Oh, come on, like you weren’t a little intrigued too.

I’m very well aware that sex sells, but so far I’m just confused as to what La Boeuf and Von Trier’s point is in making this film. Is leaving something, anything, to the imagination a lost art?

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