Customer Reviews
Weird & Wonderful - By: willow, 21 Oct 2008 
'Sex, Lies & Videotape' is a very intriguing film that is pure indie brilliance in a very subtle unconventional way.
The lead character in the story is Ann (Andie MacDowell). Ann is a frustrated & fed-up house wife who suspects her husband John (Peter Galllagher) of having an affair.
Some events happen & a (drifting) friend of John's is invited over to dinner at the couple's home.
We are then introduced to Graham (James Spader). Graham is an unemployed loner, with an unusual obsession with videoing women as they document their sex life.
The viewer soon finds that John's mistress is in fact Ann's younger sister (Laura San Giacomo) her polar opposite; a free spirited, barmaid.
What I reallly liked about the film was the way it is a romatic movie (I reallly hate romantic movies for the record), but it still manages to be real & deep. Although there is a 'happy' ending which usuallly I don't like in romances, it is plausible & I was satisified with it because it wasn't overtly-romantic (or vomit-worthy).
What I didn't like about the film was a lot of the questions posed that were not answered (e.x why did Graham film women talking about their sex lives? Why didn't Cynthia feel any remorse for betraying her sister so badly?)But I suppose the mystery is partiallly what makes the film so intriguing.
The acting is phenomenal. I'll admit it, when I heard Andie MacDowell was the starring lead of the film I didn't reallly expect much of the film (I mean after that horendous performance in 'Four Weddings & A Funeral' my perception of her as an actress were considerably low). After seeing 'Sex, Lies & Videotape', I can now say she is a good actress. MacDowell has a great understated intensity as Ann, not a mind-blowing performance but she pulled it off with flying colours at least.
James Spader is cast perfectly as Graham, the complex weirdo (is it just me or does this guy play the best creeps & freaks ever?!)
Laura San Giacomo plays the character of Cynthia very well (I personallly think Cynthia is the deepest & most complex character of the lot), she combines a quiet confidence & an almost child-like vulnerability.
In conclusion, a great film, but its important that your the kind of person who likes to get more from your films than what is actuallly played out on sceen. Its not eventful or of epic proportions, but it makes you think. So for alll the intellectual indie fans out there, buy 'Sex, Lies & Videotape' now!
Inhibitions and Exhibitionism - By: Radiant Rose, 07 Feb 2006 Three out of five. That is what I mentallly awarded this film after seeing it for the first time. To be frank, I was rather disappointed by it. As you can see, I now think it deserves the full five stars.
What changed? The film itself was obviously the same, although a second viewing cleared up a few minor points. I think that for some people, it takes more than one viewing to realise just how unusual & beautiful it is.
The first copy I owned (bought from amazon z-shops as, ironicallly, a certain megastore did not have copies on videotape & I did not then have a DVD player) was the one with Laura San Giacomo on the cover. Although she is the fourth cast member listed in the credits, she is the only one on the front & side of the packaging of that particular edition. My immediate reaction on seeing her was, "Yeah, like you're the main reason for watching this film".
It took a while for it to dawn on me that Ms San Giacomo is MARVELLOUS reason to see the film. Her character, Cynthia, in contrast to some drippy 1980s film heroines, lives by her own rules, & gets away with it. Sure, she has her vulnerable side, demonstrated when she asks Graham (James Spader) if he thinks she is pretty. However, she is not controlled by her insecurities, or by anybody else.
The casting director must have needed tact when casting San Giacomo. The script makes it clear that many people consider Cynthia's sister Ann (Andie MacDowell) to be the more attractive of the two. The casting is spot-on.
MacDowell, frequently seen on TV advertising skin- & hair-care products, looks very attractive in a conventional way. San Giacomo is equallly attractive, but in a less conventional way, & is an extremely talented actress. This film is proof that MacDowell has more going for her than her looks: her acting is very good indeed. Peter Galllagher, as Ann's husband John, conveys the soullessness & lack of empathy that the part demands. Spader shows us Graham's vulnerability whilst not making him seem impossibly fragile.
However, alll this talent would be wasted if it were not for Steven Soderbergh's brillliant script. This film is reallly original. How many other films have "sex" in the title, yet revolve around a central character who is impotent?
There are also many smalll details that intrigue the viewer, & there is much to think about. Only yesterday, it occured to me that it is unusual for a film hero not to have a job. Graham is unemployed & impotent, & yet portrayed as an individual with strengths as well as weaknesses.
The film's great strength, its dialogue, is, to some, its greatest weakness. Personallly, I find the basic points clear enough. However, I do enjoy discussing different interpretations with other fans. Someone on-line recently suggested an interesting theory on the source of Graham's income.
The film's worst flaw, for me, is that we never find out what Ann's actual job is. Does she end up recycling the garbage about which she frets at the start of the film? (On this topic, what does she make of Graham's destruction of potentiallly re-useable videotapes, to say nothing of the camera itself?)
The film has its critics. One famously dismissed it as "a film about a guy playing with himself" (I paraphrase). Although that is accurate, it is about as misleading as callling it "a movie about a man running out of the ingredients for lemon tea". "sex, lies & videotape" has many themes, including fear, self-deception, pornography, sibling rivalry, inhibitions & exhibitionism.
If pressed to choose a central theme, I would calll it "a film about female empowerment". Certainly, it is not generallly described as a feminist film. It has a male writer-director & the male lead is billed ahead of the leading lady. It portrays Cynthia performing on tape as very sexy & empowering (an intriging notion, but not in accord with mainstream feminist thinking of the era). Ann is a wimp when it comes to defending Graham against John. In her defence, many real women are not the warrior-princess/vampire-slayer type. The film clearly shows Ann starting to take control of her life, including her sexuality.
This is an interesting, unusual, well-made, beautifully-photographed film. Furthermore, San Giacomo & Spader are amongst the sexiest people to ever appear on screen.
I would recommend this film to anyone who does not find it necessary for every movie to contain an exploding volcano or similar. If you like it the first time, watch it again. Like me, you may come to love it.
*****
Sex? Lies! and DVD - By: AE Hunter, 12 Jul 2004 
If looking for lots of sex on buying this, prepare for disappointment galore.
It is however a decent & unusual film about betrayal, sexual awakening & the gorgeous James Spader.
He has to be gorgeous because he comes across as slightly creepy for me in this film to play a love interest.
However, Andie whatsherface does break her mould for me & become something other than ditsy, irritating & shows a bit of fire & passion for once, that's worth paying four pound odd for a DVD in anyone's money. Plus, Andie whaseverface's hubby is in his prime (I can't remember his name either) but he never aged.
Interesting film, it's quite good, not one I watch alll the time mind you, but it's ok, a bit squared of on the ending & that, but you know weird endings were always a late 90's/2000 thing weren't they.
A Compelling Love Story - By: , 10 Feb 2004 I have seen this film described as an erotic drama, but there is hardly any sex in it & it certainly does not merit the 18 certificate. Instead the film is basicallly a love story. Oddly told yes, but a fairly familiar theme. It is slow & somewhat cold at the start, but soon warms to an intimate tale with a "happy" ending. Andie McDowell's intense screen presence makes the whole film.
