The Seagull (2018)

What do James Mason, Jon Voight, Kevin Kline, and Peter Sarsgaard have in common? They all portrayed Boris Trigorin in various versions of Anton Chekhov’s famous play The Seagull (1896). Since it’s considered one of the writer’s greatest male parts, it’s no wonder Corey Stoll accepted the role in the cinematic adaption The Seagull (2018). Under the direction of Michael Mayer, this film also features Annette Bening as fading actress Irina Arkadina; Billy Howle as playwright Konstantin Treplyov; Brian Dennehy as Sorin Arkadin;  Elisabeth Moss as Masha; Jon Tenney as Dr. Sergeyevich Dor; Mare Winningham as Polina; Michael Zegen as schoolteacher Mikhail Medvedenko; and Saoirse Ronan as ingénue Nina Zarechnaya. Set in a country estate in Russia during the early 1900s, this play within a movie focuses on romantic relationships and the creative arts via fully fleshed-out characters. Speaking of flesh, the film showcases the skin on Mr. Howle. Just six minutes into the flick, we are treated to a view of Billy in the buff. Yes, the skintastic actor doffs his duds to take a naked dip in the lake. As such, he shows off his bare back. If that’s not erotic enough, he also reveals his raw rump. All it takes is one glance at his nude booty to make a splash in your pants! Perhaps that’s why the pic was considered for the Grand Prize for the Best Literary Adaptation at the CineLibri International Book and Movie Festival. Although it lost, we were won over by Billy’s bare butt!