Joyce Kulhawik
It has sold over a hundred million copies world wide–that’s one book a second.
Its British author E.L. (Erika Leonard) James, former London TV exec and mother of two teen boys, says she was inspired by a midlife crisis and Stephenie Myer’s “Twilight,” the mega- hit teen girl fantasy series featuring vampires in heat. In 2011 she struck a sexual nerve with their mothers and self-published her erotic novel “Fifty Shades Of Grey” as an e-book, which unexpectedly set the web on fire. The first of a trilogy’s worth of bondage, discipline, and all manner of kinky S&M, dubbed “mommy porn,” James went on to write a second installment called “Fifty Shades Darker,” and a third called “Fifty Shades Freed.”
After a few casting stops and starts, the first book is finally on its way to the big screen. So, do the actors who landed the parts fit the fantasies of millions? How about yours? Check out Universal Pictures just released “official” trailer (it racked up 12 million hits in two days) underscored with Beyonce’s aching “Crazy in Love.”
That’s 32 year-old, 6 foot Irishman and former Calvin Klein model Jamie Dornan as devastatingly handsome billionaire Christian Grey of the blue grey eyes. He demands total submission from college grad Anastasia Steele– even as he lavishes her with luxury; she’s played by 24 year-old Dakota Johnson daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and granddaughter of Tippi Hedren– Hitchcock’s tormented blonde heroine of THE BIRDS. You might recognize Dakota from a brief scene in THE SOCIAL NETWORK opposite Justin Timberberlake, and you might recognize him from Calvin Klein ads where he became known for “the golden torso.”
He, um, looks about right to me– except, wasn’t he blonde in the book? And she was most definitely brunette, yet it seems she’s blonde in the following trailer. In any case, I was hoping for someone more beautiful, but apparently the two confess to having chemistry upon meeting, which then ramped up onscreen. And according to the author who’s often onset during filming, there’s no stinting on the sex scenes which are quite explicit and which James says she and her husband “researched” while she was writing the book–on her BlackBerry on the way to work. Talk about multi-tasking. Based on what I read, the movie HAS to be better than the book. “Fifty Shades of Grey” is set for release on Valentine’s day next February, 2015. Be still my heart. Here’s another sneak peek.