Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 100 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Stars: James Spader, Andie MacDowell and Laura San Giacomo
IMDb score:
7,2 (65.557)
Releasedate: 4 August 1989
Sex, Lies, and Videotape plot
Ann is married to John, who is having an affair with her sister Cynthia. When John's old friend Graham arrives, their lives change. Graham likes to videotape his conversations with women.
Actors and actresses
Ann Bishop Mullany
John Mullany
Graham Dalton
Cynthia Bishop
Therapist
Barfly
Girl on Tape
Landlord
John's Colleague
Reviews & comments
tbouwh
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- 5866 messages
- 5496 votes
Paradoxically enough, Steven Soderbergh's directing career started with one of his best-grossing films: a simple drama that even won the jury prize at Cannes.
I didn't see much in this myself. Sex, Lies and Videotape is a fairly emblematic title for the four main characters, who each try to find their way in the relational and sexual field in their own way. A nice role by Andie MacDowell, but Spader looks just as uninspired and timid here as in Crash, while the other two main characters especially evoked a lot of disgust because of their characters. There are no surprises in the script. For a hundred minutes, it is mainly dialogues that pass in review, here and there brightened up by some lies or secret relationships that come to light.
It never got good or catchy, that endless talk about sexuality. The ambient score by Cliff Martinez does enhance the atmosphere, but that alone is not enough to really boost my judgement. Then there is the acknowledgment that maybe this just wasn't my type of film.
1.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
K. V.
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- 4454 messages
- 3834 votes
This one also picked up, but it didn't really get hot or cold. A real talk film and that's why it suited me a little less. Fortunately, the cast did well. The movie does look a bit dated.
Nice to have seen, but I like Steven Soderbergh's other films better.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 12083 messages
- 7064 votes
Don't think it's that exciting.
The opening of Soderbergh. As a director he is a solid guy. It's just a shame that I haven't really come across anything under his name that I really like or really managed to blow me away. Not his first unfortunately.
Sex, Lies and Videotape has enough material to be unique and special, but unfortunately I almost completely miss that in terms of effect. There are special things to it, that's for sure, but it is mainly the soundtrack that feels experimental. The film itself is just a bit too standard.
Acting is pretty decent. MacDowell certainly surprised me, I usually don't like him at all. Spader is also doing very well. I was a little less a fan of Giacomo and Gallagher, but they get less space to show themselves.
The performance of the film is fairly standard. Pictured as standard, designed as standard. Bare house, bare everything. Some nice shots at some more dreamy moments, those are the strongest moments of the film. The soundtrack is also nice and special, only we don't get to see it very often.
Story is quite strange, but the execution is mostly humane. In the end I have no problem with that, that is part of the type of film. I had only hoped for more apartheid in terms of directing, because it is all so simply put together. Don't understand why this movie is on top lists. I don't think it's really special anywhere. Sorry.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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