Sex, Lies, and Videotape
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.68 You Save: $5.31 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.18 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Movie Review: Eroticism is in the conversation, rather than the act itself
Summary: 4 Stars
This 1989 film, written and directed by Steven Soderberg, was certainly the beginning of an important career for him. This low-budget film captured a wide audience and a large box office. It's a seemingly simple film, but it makes an important statement. Basically, it demonstrates that our most erogenous zone is the mind. And it is the conversation, rather than the act itself where eroticism lies.The story is about four modern people, all with relationship problems. Andie MacDowell is a frigid wife. Peter Gallager is her lawyer husband who cheats on her with her own sister, Laura San Giacomo. And James Spader is the husband's friend Graham, who, because of his own dysfunctional needs, can only get aroused one way - by watching videotapes of women talking about their erotic life. Otherwise, he's impotent in a real life situation.
I found this film slow and talky but it was also intriguing. It goes deeper than the surface and I was fascinated by its creativity. And it uses the medium of videotape to do it all. This, of course was filmed before the Internet, cell phones and even DVDs. And so there is a certain datedness to it. But yet it deals with some universal truths. And a willingness to explore the lies. I enjoyed it but it's more for film buffs than a general audience. Recommended.
Movie Review: Strangely Curious
Summary: 4 Stars
I was glad to finally see this film (on HDNet), but like most everyone I found it very strange. Yes it's about sex, but more the psychogical diversity each of us has when it comes to sex. Some want it more than others, some have to have it in certain circumstances, some don't really care for it, and some achieve it in perverted ways.
The storyline is not too abstarct so it's easy to follow, but throughout the movie I was constantly trying to re-figure each character. My perception of each changed as the movie went along, paricualry Graham, who seemed less creepy as the movie went along as we begin to understand the underlying reasons for his problem.
There is certainly a dark under-tone to this movie and much suspense, so it was rather engaging. However, I did find the ending to be abrupt, but I guess we're meant to be left to figure out what exactly happned between Ann and Graham. I figure there ending is happier than that of John's, who seems to get everything he deserves for his infidelity.
Overall this was a very good film, however I don't think it's worth adding to my "elite" collection ;-)
Movie Review: Insightful, a glance at inhibitions and the power of truth.
Summary: 4 Stars
When I first saw this film, I was thinking bad thoughts: this film isn't going to be very good, but rather sensationalistic. Well, I was wrong in the most delightful wa. This film, although about sex in different schools of thought, is actually about finding the self and rediscovering a security with who you are. Just ask Graham (James Spader), who is impotent, but rather than concealing the fact with shame, he discusses it with his friend's wife (Andie MacDowell), with the same comfort and truth that he has seen in his several interviews with women. Entering into three private lives, Graham becomes an audience to a wife's paranoia and inhibition, a husband's infedility and dishonesty, and a sister's shallow standards and immaturity. The end result gives a revelation to everyone, even to Graham himself, and sex becomes more truthful and passionate (to some), and more condemning and devastating (to others) then anyone could ever imagine. A good film about being mature in the midst of the most ruthless immaturity.Movie Review: Brief yet thought-provoking story
Summary: 4 Stars
The running time isn't too long on this, yet it conveys a great deal of material involving two men and two women--specifically, one married couple, the wife's sister (who is having an affair with her brother in law), and the man's friend who comes around for a visit and decides to stay. His presence becomes disruptive, even though he is not aggressive. His hobby is making tapes of women talking about sex and related issues and then watching the tapes.
The mousy wife becomes more aggressive herself when she turns the tables on the tape-maker and forces him to face himself and his motivations. She also discovers more about herself and her husband and sister in the process.
This is a quiet film with a lot of talking, so it will not appeal to those looking for a sex romp or lots of action. This is more of a thought-provoking film.
I just wondered at the end if the wife confronted her sister, and if the husband would continue to spiral down.
Movie Review: Wonderful Dialog Between Some Troubled Folks
Summary: 4 Stars
Peter Gallagher is yuppie, junior law partner John Mullany with a huge office, a cold wife and a sizzling affair with her sister. Andie MacDowell is Ann Bishop Mullany who has lost interest in sex, being touched and grapples with huge issues like "what are we going to do with all the garbage" in therapy. Laura San Giacomo is Cynthia - Ann's bartender, nymphomaniac sister - who is OK with touching John.
Things are put into motion when John's frat brother Graham (James Spader) comes back to town. Ann does not want him staying in her house, but she warms up to him and helps him find an apartment and becomes his friend. Graham is full of many secrets and one of them is that he likes to videotape women talking about sex - this is how he gets gratification.
Ann and Cynthia become subjects for his collection and the worlds of the women and the men change forever.
Steven Soderbergh wrote and directed this film and he gets wonderful performances from Spader and MacDowell.