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 15 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Spader	...	Graham
Andie MacDowell	...	Ann
Peter Gallagher	...	John
Laura San Giacomo	...	Cynthia
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:

sex | husband wife relationship | affair | therapist | sister sister relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sex, Lies...

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$24,741,700

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

Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies.

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Goofs

When Graham is interviewing Ann, Ann sets the camera down on the arm of the chair pointing at the window away from the couch. When Graham gets up to turn it off, it is pointing at the couch.

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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 FBI: Criminal Pursuit: Sex, Murder, and Video Tape (2013)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Didn't live up to the expectations

I heard a great deal about this movie from some of my friends and having seen some of Soderbergh's more recent works, I must say I was kind of let down. The story in itself is kind of interesting but the characters (and the actors) aren't. Most of the characters felt superficial to me ie. the successful lawyer having an affair, cheating sister, repressed wife etc. I just think Soderbergh should have built the characters a little more. Other than that it is quite a decent film. Especially the different perspectives this film gives you on infidelity and dishonesty (and fetishes I guess). Not a movie I would watch again though... I'll just stick to Soderbergh more recent work (Traffic was brilliant).