Sex, Lies, and Videotape Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 3411

Average Rating: 2.8/4

# of Ratings: 73

Theatrical Release Date: 08/04/1989

Language: English

Genre: Drama

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Actors: James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, Laura San Giacomo, Steven Brill, Ron Vawter

Plot: Ann seeks therapy and discusses her marital discontent. Her sister and husband John has an affair. A friend of John comes back to their town. Ann and Graham become close.

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/24/2019

A demanding character study that pushed indie films to prominence and ushered in the entire indie movement of the 1990s.

Unknown - wrote on 02/06/2012

A hard one to describe. Though, the title does boil it down to the three main story elements. It's provocative, without ever showing any nudity or sex related acts. A mature and intelligent film about human sexuality that is more for adults.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 12/30/2011

This is one of few Soderbergh flicks to let me down - an overly emotional and weepy tale that I just couldn't get into. The low budget feel is in sticking with Soderbergh's aesthetic, but the over-wrought performances brought the film down, in my opinion. And Soderbergh is usually best at getting good performances.

Andrew
Producer

This is no ordinary love triangle

Andrew - wrote on 05/14/2012

As far as titles go, Sex, Lies, and Videotape hits the nail on the head as a perfect summary of this films contents. It is an intriguing and strange low-budget film that helped jump started Steven Soderbergh's career.

This story is centered around Ann (Andie MacDowell) a housewife in the midst of a sexless marriage with John (Peter Gallagher) a philandering lawyer who has been sleeping with Ann's free-spirited sister Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo). Further complicating matters is the arrival of Graham (James Spader) an old friend of John's who is staying at Ann and John's house while finds an apartment. Ann soon becomes intrigued by Graham's openness and drifter lifestyle, something that disgusts John. Tension builds as each character is caught in a bizarre web involving sex, lies, …

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

Sex, Lies, and Videotape review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 01/21/2012

Ann (Andie MacDowell) sees a therapist about her marital problem. John (Peter Gallagher) has an affair with Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo), Ann’s sister. Graham (James Spader), a friend of John, arrives and hangs out with Ann. She discovers Graham’s tapes in the apartment regarding the interviews of various women. Cynthia then visits Graham about the videotapes.

The screenplay was amazing. A few sensational lines: Graham – “Liars are the second lowest form of human being in the plant…Lawyers (his answer when Ann asked who the first was).” “Lying is like alcoholism.” Ann - “I think sex is overrated.” “Nothing’s what I thought it was.” Cynthia – “I trust him before I trust you.” Andie MacDowell and James Spader were really marvelous in this …