Sex, Lies & Videotape - What do you imply?
Written: Nov 17 '00
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| susidee34's Full Review: Sex, Lies and Videotape |
Written and directed by first timer Steven Soderbergh, this relatively low budget flick actually received quite a bit of acclaim. Nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards, it lost to Stones' Born on the 4th of July, but won Best Picture and Best Actor (Spader) at the Cannes Film Festival.
The movie centers around four main characters: Andie MacDowell & Peter Gallagher (husband and wife), Laura San Giacomo (Andie's sister & Peters' lover) and James Spader (Peters' ex-college roommate). I have always found Gallagher and Spader to be a little disturbing. They always appear edgy, sexual and a tad bit frightening. This story is no exception as Gallagher is a high profile, energetic attorney married to MacDowell and schlepping her sister, San Giacomo, on the side. Spader, his former college roommate, is patiently filming ladies that agree to discuss their most intimate sexual encounters and desires with him........hmmmmmm.
Andie MacDowell, with her innocent schoolgirl looks, has the ability to go either way - sometimes softly sexual, sometimes wide eyed innocent and sometimes unleashed tiger. She pretty much runs the gambit of all her sides in this release as she delves into her repressed psyche with her therapist, approaches her slightly defunct relationship with Gallagher, and her burgeoning relationship with Spader.
San Giacomo plays the alluring sexual sibling, hating being in her sisters shadow and always striving to best her. Hence the relationship with Gallagher. She becomes intrigued with Spader, again to spite her sister, and makes a film of her own for him telling of her indiscretion with Gallagher, which she ends at the same time. Of course, MacDowell sees this tape and decides to do a little confessing of her own.
I found the concept of this movie quite delightful, if a little on the dark side. Despite it's come hither title, Sex, Lies and Videotape relies more on the audio side of sex in lieu of the visual side. Sometimes it is definitely moody and disturbing as you watch these characters lives unravel before you, but it builds to an emotion ending. I particularly enjoyed the role reversal when MacDowell, in the middle of her video tape, turns the camera on Spader. At times it is almost painful to watch his confessions on tape.
For an unknown, I found this production very clean and concise. Mr. Soderbergh takes initiative and patience to draw the characters out and involve the actors in their parts. He appears both professional and sensitive. Five thumbs up!
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: SusiDee
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