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Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
18 August 1989 (USA) morePlot:
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. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 wins & 10 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Library of Congress Selects New Films for Preservation (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 28 December 2006)
Producer Newmyer Dies
(From WENN. 14 December 2005)
User Comments:
Exquisitely crafted, honest, minimalist and an almost perfect product moreCast
(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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
100 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Singapore:M18 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:10 (1989) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16Filming Locations:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USAFun Stuff
Trivia:
On the first day of production, the producers sent a telegram to Steven Soderbergh; they teased him good-naturedly, telling him they'd heard reports he "couldn't direct traffic". Twelve years later, Soderbergh won the Oscar... for directing Traffic (2000). moreGoofs:
Continuity: The amount of ice tea in Anne's glass when she first visits Graham's house. He hands her a glass about half full and then later we see that it is filled almost completely when she almost spills it. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Ann: Garbage. All I've been thinking about all week is garbage. I mean, I just can't stop thinking about it.
more
Soundtrack:
Garbage moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
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It is a film about relationships, dilemma, courage and more. What works in life and what does not. Honesty does and (crudely speaking) at a very basic level that is the message. At the very heart are the three protagonists who are stuck. The therapist is spectacularly wrong in his interpretation to the apparently frigid wife: 'If you think about it ...you are obsessed about things you have no control over'. But she demonstrates at the end that she did have the control. All she needed was a better, more 'intimate' therapist; a catalyst : Graham ; who ends up uncluttering the cheating sister in law's mind and forces the husband to confront his problems in the process. It is a remarkably optimistic film in its content and therefore perhaps slightly unrealistic.
It is a film about masterful use of contrasts; the two women and the two men could not have been more opposite in every possible respect. In a way Graham is also a perfect contrast to the imperfect Psychoanalyst. This helps the director bring out the message clearly.
The whole film is crafted in a minimalist way, flows smoothly and does not carry much 'garbage'! Music, camera and the narrative are almost perfect in that they are almost invisible. So are the actors, especially James Spader and to a large extent Andie MacDowell. Gallegher is probably less than perfect but very good nonetheless. Laura Giacomo portrays a rather difficult character really well. It treats the audience with respect as the message is subtle and very personal, as it should be. My only grievance is the last office scene involving Gallegher was probably unnecessary.
Sex and the videotapes are incidental to the storey and perhaps misnomers therefore.
It is like reading a rather well written short storey and I would recommend 'Days And Nights In The Forest' (perhaps slightly more realistic and understated than this film) by Satyajit Ray to those who have enjoyed this film.
My rating 8/10.