Jul
27
The ‘L.A. Times’ on ‘Men of Israel,’ Jewish Identity
July 27, 2009 | 13 Comments
A tip of the hat this morning to Michael Lucas, whose MEN OF ISRAEL is the subject of a rumination on gay porn and Jewish identity in this morning’s Los Angeles Times. When was the last time a gay adult filmmaker was deemed worthy of that kind of real estate? In a blog posting (reprinted in the paper) titled ” ‘Men of Israel’: the new box office stud?” columnist Patrick Goldstein briefly examines Jewish identity through the prism of Mr. Lucas’ new blue movie, believed to be the first gay adult film shot on location in Israel with an all-Jewish cast (and who use recognizably Jewish names. “Obviously a fine distinction,” Mr. Goldstein notes, “but a distinction nonetheless”). The columnist mistakenly refers to Mr. Lucas as a “former porn actor” but otherwise it’s a brief, if thoughtful discussion, which takes as a lead-in another piece on MEN OF ISRAEL from Tablet magazine (offering “smart, iconoclastic coverage of Jewish arts, politics and culture”): “Great Exxxpectations: Israeli studs make a new kind of porno.” Folks, how often does a gay porn film break through the glass ceiling to become a topic for serious discussion in the mainstream media? Whatever one might think of Mr. Lucas or his PR tactics, that is no easy feat. Congrats to his team for the accomplishment.
Comments
13 Comments so far
I confess I’m a bit sceptical when it comes to porn as a cultural (i.e. political/social/’educational’) phenomenon. I’m not saying those aspects don’t exist, but to me (at least) a film/scene’s ‘cultural’ value is far, far less important to me than it’s ‘erotic’ value (i.e. it’s ability to get me off). So while I echo JC’s compliment to Michael on his ability to elevate his films into being discussed by the ‘mainstream media’, of far greater importance to me is that ML’s films remain consistently erotic! And from the two on-line scenes I’ve seen of ‘Men of Israel’, that trend is certainly continued in this film!
I congrats to all”Men of Israel”. They are beauty of men…
Grumble Grumble &%@*#
Congratulations Michael
DeWayne grumbles and mutters…
Oh just a reminder there was a previous ALL JEWISH cast in an all Made In Israel porno released last year by Wurstfilm in Germany.
Lucas is the first big budget Gay production in Israel not the first.
This is a phenomenal accomplishment. It really does elevate the genre to a different field. Congrats to all and the PR machines that worked this out!
HEY DE WAYNE… DO YOUR HOME WORK BEFORE POSTING HERE: THE MOVIE BY WURSTFILM DID NOT HAVE THE “ALL ISRAELI CAST”. IT HAD GUYS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES INCLUDING LUDOVIC CANOT FROM PARIS.
@tim
You’re right I looked it up! and also LA TIMES made the distinction of also being all-Jewish. These guys are so hot– always thought it was the Italians as the hot ones– apparently it’s the Jews!
Tim Lucas is the one who CLAIMED he had just filmed the first Gay Porno in Israel which was blatantly false I will retract the above statement when HE admits his Error.
Thats right Michael Lucas is never wrong he just re-edits his blog like it never happened.
He made that claim.
Obviously for a bigot like ML making the distinction that his film has an ALL JEWISH CAST gave him a hook and conveniently ignores the fact Israel is a multi-Cultural society.
As for you Tim do you get freebies in the mail?
hey dewayne
can you actually go and check on the cast by Werst Film
they flew guys from europe to israel and yes even ludovic a french actor with uncut dick is on the cover.
`i saw ludivoc in many european films including michael lucas budapest series. not to mention, the movie you are talking about looks cheap and guys are not that attractive as michaels all jewish cast for men of israel
why don’t you stop lying
I got it that you hate michael lucas but why would you go embarrass yourself in a public forum.
Im a proud Israeli and I received the movie Men of Israel yesterday and it makes me incredibly proud of my country and our men. Michael Lucas actually took his time and did our country justice. The other you are talking about-I cant even call a movie- it is below mediocre- I was embarrassed of My Israeli Platoon- I bought it here at Sexy Shop- our porn store. Bad locations, bad guys, the entire video is truly a disaster. They took no time to showcase the beauty of my land, the beauty of our guys. So I am excited we were given a real representation with Men of Israel. They really knew what they were doing when they made this film. I am a proud gay man to be from this country. And I am grateful the world is now seeing that. Thank you.
Bob I am not slightly embarrassed any more than Michael Lucas is for being well Michael Lucas.
He just does not like being caught in a lie or esposed for what he is.
A simple carnival sideshow.
HE claimed he was the first
He was not and I EXPOSED him like I will every lie Michael espouses.
DeWayne is not going Anywhere
and rest assured I will always show Michael Lucas the love he so richly deserves!
DeWayne ur really a pain in the ass, the wurstfilm wasn’t even shot in israel as far a s i could tell but it did contain two israeli models, and the scene with these two was the best of the otherwise ridicously poor dvd.
ML is indeed the first to do this kind of film, it looks hot, it’ll be a huge success thanks to the beautiful, hot, horny dedicated stars. Haven’t judged the directing and filming of mme pam though. Anyway i also feel a bit embarassed about it all as if israel is primarily a gay country or something of that kind, which it is not. Anyway porn is porn and should enable me to ‘get off’ as good as possible and should porn should mainly concentrate that, all other things are extras sometimes welcome more often NOT.
ML is to be congratulated on this first of i hope many endeavours of its kind. Now when will it be lebanon’s turn? Gay arabs can be as hot and as beautiful as their israeli counterparts. and israeli-palestinian love affairs be it of the five minute kind or the more profound one do exist. I’m ur witness:):):):)
I can say this–this box cover is one of the hottest I have ever seen, my own company’s box covers included. These guys are perfect.
I bet this movie will go down as a classic.
Chris Ward
Raging Stallion Studios
Hmm i think the box cover is okay but the hottest ever, no not really i can think you could come up with something better with these three models and the hottest two models out of the film aren’t even on the cover but then as the saying goes one doesn’t judge a book by its cover ditto for dvd’s, euh always dtto for dvd’s of the porn kind. This movie is going to be a classic? It IS already a classic before even being released. Anyway i’m a big sucker for these kind of porn actors and I hope, beg, pray, WANT vol.2…vol.3…vol.4