Finding Bliss
Encyclopedia
Finding Bliss is a 2009 romantic comedy film written and directed by filmmaker Julie Davis
(Amy's Orgasm
). Finding Bliss explores the adult film industry through the eyes of an idealistic 24 year-old film school grad, Jody Balaban (played by Leelee Sobieski
).
At first horrified by the prospect of exposing herself to the cockroaches of the film industry, not to mention the effect it would have on her strict Jewish parents, Jody has a remarkable change of heart when she realizes that Grind has all the facilities she needs to make her own low budget movie — on the sly of course — but things get complicated when Jody meets Jeff Drake (Matthew Davis), the charming Herr Director of adult films. Jeff, also an award-winning filmmaker, once had his own dreams of making "real" films, but now is a hard-worn cynic who masks his disappointment behind a façade of irony. In Jody, he sees the idealism he once had, while Jody starts to face her own sexual hang-ups as she begins to get aroused by the porn she so harshly judges. Jody and Jeff get close to each other, but she gets hurt when she sees him making out with one of his actresses, Sindi, who was actually taking advantage of Jeff in his drunken state. The movie made by Jody is well-received by critics, and Jeff is also nominated for an AVN Award for his movie. Jody wants to set things right with him; she accepts help from Bliss, the lead actress in both Jody's and Jeff's movies, but with different identities, and pretends to be her to gain entry at an award function. On stage, when Jeff receives his award, he calls Bliss for special thanks. He realizes that Jody is in disguise as Bliss, and they again get together. Jeff announces his retirement from the Adult Industry to move on.
At the 2010 Vits Awards, it received a Dishonorable Mention.
Julie Davis
Julie Davis is an American director, writer and actress. She is most famous for her directing, writing and acting in Amy's Orgasm and 2009 romantic comedy film Finding Bliss.-Career:...
(Amy's Orgasm
Amy's Orgasm
Amy's Orgasm is a 2001 film directed by Julie Davis. It stars Julie Davis as Amy, a 29 year old Jewish woman who is usually celibate from men as she does not believe in love. One day she starts dating the most unlikely man for her...
). Finding Bliss explores the adult film industry through the eyes of an idealistic 24 year-old film school grad, Jody Balaban (played by Leelee Sobieski
Leelee Sobieski
Liliane Rudabet Gloria Elsveta Sobieski , known professionally as Leelee Sobieski, is an American actress. Sobieski achieved recognition in her mid-teens for her performance in the 1998 film Deep Impact...
).
Plot
After a long humbling year temping as a traffic cop on a studio lot, Jody is faced with the hard decision of taking the only well-paying industry job she has yet been offered — editing porn at Grind Productions, a profitable adult film company run by former porn star Irene Fox (Kristen Johnston).At first horrified by the prospect of exposing herself to the cockroaches of the film industry, not to mention the effect it would have on her strict Jewish parents, Jody has a remarkable change of heart when she realizes that Grind has all the facilities she needs to make her own low budget movie — on the sly of course — but things get complicated when Jody meets Jeff Drake (Matthew Davis), the charming Herr Director of adult films. Jeff, also an award-winning filmmaker, once had his own dreams of making "real" films, but now is a hard-worn cynic who masks his disappointment behind a façade of irony. In Jody, he sees the idealism he once had, while Jody starts to face her own sexual hang-ups as she begins to get aroused by the porn she so harshly judges. Jody and Jeff get close to each other, but she gets hurt when she sees him making out with one of his actresses, Sindi, who was actually taking advantage of Jeff in his drunken state. The movie made by Jody is well-received by critics, and Jeff is also nominated for an AVN Award for his movie. Jody wants to set things right with him; she accepts help from Bliss, the lead actress in both Jody's and Jeff's movies, but with different identities, and pretends to be her to gain entry at an award function. On stage, when Jeff receives his award, he calls Bliss for special thanks. He realizes that Jody is in disguise as Bliss, and they again get together. Jeff announces his retirement from the Adult Industry to move on.
Cast
- Leelee SobieskiLeelee SobieskiLiliane Rudabet Gloria Elsveta Sobieski , known professionally as Leelee Sobieski, is an American actress. Sobieski achieved recognition in her mid-teens for her performance in the 1998 film Deep Impact...
as Jody Balaban - Matthew DavisMatthew DavisMatthew W. Davis is an American actor.-Life and career:Davis was born in Salt Lake City. He attended Woods Cross High School, and the University of Utah....
as Jeff Drake - Denise RichardsDenise RichardsDenise Lee Richards is an American actress and former fashion model of Croatian and Welsh descent. She has appeared in films including Starship Troopers, Wild Things, and The World Is Not Enough...
as Laura/Bliss - Donnamarie Recco as Kathleen
- Jamie KennedyJamie KennedyJames Harvey "Jamie" Kennedy is an American comedian, rapper, and actor.-Early life:Kennedy, the youngest of six children, was born in Upper Darby Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family is of Irish descent and he was raised Roman Catholic. He attended and graduated from...
as Richard 'Dick' Harder - Kristen JohnstonKristen JohnstonKristen Johnston is an American stage, film, and television actress. She may be most famous for her role as Sally Solomon in the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun...
as Irene - Mircea MonroeMircea MonroeMircea Monroe is an American actress and model.Monroe's first professional acting job was in the New Line film, Cellular. Since then, Monroe has appeared in various films, and pilots for The WB and Fox, starred in the Fox show Drive, and guest starred on TV shows, including Freddie, Scrubs, and...
as Sindi - P.J. Byrne as Gary
- Caroline AaronCaroline AaronCaroline Aaron is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her role as acid-tongued talk show host Mary Pat Lee on Wings.-Personal life:...
as Debra Balaban - Tim BagleyTim BagleyTimothy Hugh "Tim" Bagley is an American character actor who has appeared in numerous films and television programs. He is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on the TV series Will & Grace, Monk and $h*! My Dad Says.-Early life:...
as Alan Balaban - Christa CampbellChrista CampbellChrista Campbell is an American actress who started her career in softcore pornography, and later broke into horror films. She had roles in films including 2001 Maniacs, Wicker Man, and Day of the Dead.-Movie career:...
as Kato - Mr. MarcusMr. MarcusMr. Marcus is an American pornographic actor. He specializes in interracial pornography.- Career :...
as Jake B. Bigg - Sammi HanrattySammi HanrattySamantha "Sammi" Hanratty professionally known as Sammi Hanratty is an American actress and singer. In 2007, she began her acting career portraying young Charlotte "Chuck" Charles on the ABC series Pushing Daisies...
as Young Jody Balaban - Stormy DanielsStormy DanielsStormy Daniels , also known as Stormy Waters and simply Stormy, is an American pornographic actress, screenwriter, and director. She chose her stage name to reflect her love of Mötley Crüe, whose bassist, Nikki Sixx, named his daughter Storm...
as a porn starlet - Garry MarshallGarry MarshallGarry Kent Marshall is an American actor, director, writer and producer. His notable credits include creating Happy Days and The Odd Couple and directing Nothing In Common, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, and The Princess Diaries.-Early life:Marshall was born in the New York City...
as Himself - Ron JeremyRon JeremyRonald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
as Himself - Zach Cumer as Bobby Daples
- Mario CassemMario CassemMario Cassem is an American actor known for his role in 17 Again. He has also acted in My Own Worst Enemy and Finding Bliss.- Biography :Mario was trained at the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio and the Huckleberry and Friends ....
as Morris Goldstein - Dan Taylor as Cute Guy
- Julie DavisJulie DavisJulie Davis is an American director, writer and actress. She is most famous for her directing, writing and acting in Amy's Orgasm and 2009 romantic comedy film Finding Bliss.-Career:...
as Dyan Cannons - G.K. BowesG.K. BowesGina K. Bowes, more commonly known as G.K. Bowes, is a voice actress famous for playing Senna in the anime movie Bleach: Memories of Nobody. She has had other roles, including Kiyal Bachika in Gurren Lagann and Little Red Riding Hood and Little Bo Peep in Happily N'Ever After 2: Snow White Another...
as Additional voices (uncredited)
Release
The film was released theatrically in the U.S. on June 4, 2010 in New York City and June 11, 2010 in Los Angeles.Reception
The movie generally received negative reviews with 28% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.At the 2010 Vits Awards, it received a Dishonorable Mention.
External links
- Finding Bliss at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...