Paparazzi (2018) Online

One of Jacky St. James' better dramas for Sweet Sinner, "Paparazzi" is indeed about those shutterbugs who date back to Fellini's era and are as difficult to eliminate as cockroaches or red algae. (I was going to say kudzu, but that would be dating myself).

Abella Danger stars as the lead paparazzo of the story, and though she begins the show overacting her performance kind of grows on you by the tale's trenchant ending. Her boyfriend is underemployed musician Chad Alva, who encourages her to follow her goal in life and pursue artistic photography, but Abella (odd character name: Desi) opts to slave in the TMZ-level gutter to attempt to make ends meet.

Villain of the piece is smugly played by Small Hands, owner of a leading tabloid competing with another bottom-dwelling publisher, ably played (uncredited) by auteur Jacky herself. St. James gets to recite (or bark out) several carefully-scripted diatribes attacking the fake celebrity culture of Hollywood, reminiscent of this oft-expressed theme in the work of fellow porn director Dana Vespoli. In both their cases, I sense resentment borne of envy (as it's nearly impossible to break into the mainstream) but within an Adult Cinema context Jacky's criticism here is convincing.

Narrative limns the ups and downs of Desi's career, with some vivid sex scenes along the way, notably: a strong threesome in the final reels involving a creepy tabloid-feeder, a former reality TV star played by Mona Wales (with strap-on dildo her weapon of choice), sexy Ramon Nomar and Abella; as well as an interesting cuckold-genre scene with beautiful Jade Nile using Small Hands for servicing, as her Gay Blade of a husband watches. Hubby is played (NonSex Role) by Sergeant Miles, something of an in-joke bit of casting since Miles' day job includes hardcore assignments for fellow labels in the Mile High orbit: Icon Male and Transsensual.

Kudos to Sweet Sinner for giving screen credits to NonSex roles this time including 3 beauties who briefly appear at Mona's place for an orgy that doesn't take place.