Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)

A sexually repressed woman's husband is having an affair with her sister. The arrival of a visitor with a rather unusual fetish changes everything.

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writer:

Steven Soderbergh

Stars:

James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Spader	...	Graham Dalton
Andie MacDowell	...	Ann Bishop Mullany
Peter Gallagher	...	John Mullany
Laura San Giacomo	...	Cynthia Patrice Bishop
Ron Vawter	...	Therapist
Steven Brill	...	Barfly
Alexandra Root	...	Girl on Tape
Earl T. Taylor	...	Landlord
David Foil	...	John's Colleague

Storyline

Ann is married to John, who is having an affair with her sister Cynthia. Ann's a quiet type and unwilling to let herself go. When John's old friend, Graham, shows up, all their lives change. Graham likes to videotape interviews with women.

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Plot Keywords:

affair | videotape | interview | sex | sexual denial | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sex, Lies...

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$24,741,700 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Outlaw Productions (I), Virgin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jennifer Jason Leigh turned down the role of Cynthia Bishop in order to appear in Miami Blues, though she later expressed regret that she missed out on the role.

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Goofs

Graham and Anne's hands when they discuss therapy in the cafe.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ann: Garbage. All I've been thinking about all week is garbage. I mean, I just can't stop thinking about it.

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Crazy Credits

This film is dedicated to Ann Dollard 1956-1988

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Connections

Referenced in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Sex, Lies and Larvae (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Garbage"
Written by Mark A. Mangini
Performed by Mark A. Mangini

User Reviews

Spader is amazing!

Spader's character was the reason I enjoyed the film so much. I could identify with him and his dilemma. It seemed he felt like a stranger in an even stranger land. Who were these humans that seem so happy in the same world he could not find happiness within? What is this life we live? More importantly, what is the point? Why bother? His great battle with existence was a philosophical one. He, like myself, felt infinite sadness over the knowledge that are no concrete answers...

The movie is also interesting because it attacks the main sexual organ, the mind. Graham while trying to distance himself from the human experience by capturing sex confessionals on videotape, perhaps unwittingly became more intimate with his "partners." Roger Ebert points out that the films' argument is that conversation is better than sex.

Personally, I think the movie is about trying to find happiness with another person. Some Modest Mouse song lyrics come to mind. "And it's hard to be a human being/ And it's harder as anything else/ and I'm lonesome when you're around/ I'm never lonesome when I'm by myself" Graham finds it hard to be a human being and live in this human world full of values that he finds strange, confusing, and most importantly unfulfilling. What do you do when your ideology and needs don't mesh in the society you live within? How does one deal with feelings of loneliness in a society that spurns him? This movie is about one man's way.

James Spader does such an excellent job as this character. In fact, great acting all around by the entire cast and excellent writing and directing by Mr. Soderbergh. Go see this movie now!