Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writer (WGA):

Steven Soderbergh (written by)

Release Date:

18 August 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A sexually repressed woman's husband is having an affair with her sister. The arrival of a visitor with a rather unusual fetish changes everything.

Plot Keywords:

Affair | Sex | Interview | Yuppie | Trust

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

James Spader	...	Graham Dalton
Andie MacDowell	...	Ann Bishop Mullany
Peter Gallagher	...	John Mullany
Laura San Giacomo	...	Cynthia Patrice Bishop
Ron Vawter	...	Therapist
Steven Brill	...	Barfly
Alexandra Root	...	Girl on Tape
Earl T. Taylor	...	Landlord
David Foil	...	John's Colleague

Directed by
Steven Soderbergh

Writing credits (WGA)
Steven Soderbergh		(written by)

Produced by
John Hardy	....	producer
Morgan Mason	....	executive producer
Robert F. Newmyer	....	producer (as Robert Newmyer)
Nancy Tenenbaum	....	executive producer
Nick Wechsler	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Cliff Martinez

Cinematography by
Walt Lloyd

Film Editing by
Steven Soderbergh

Casting by
Deborah Aquila

Art Direction by
Joanne Schmidt

Set Decoration by
Victoria Spader

Makeup Department
Sabrina Lopez	....	hair stylist
James Ryder	....	makeup artist
Amanda Schuler	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John Hardy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Dempsey	....	first assistant director (as Michael Dempsey)
Alexandra Root	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bonnie Amos	....	artwork
Amy Archinal	....	artwork
Bill Cancienne	....	swing crew chief
Aaron Glascock	....	property master

Sound Department
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (as Vanessa Ament)
Larry Blake	....	sound editor
Larry Blake	....	sound re-recordist
Scott Chandler	....	foley recordist
David W. Gray	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Paul Ledford	....	production sound mixer
David E. Stone	....	foley editor (as Dave Stone)
Stephen Tyler	....	boom operator
Ben Williams	....	sound assistant
Ron Bartlett	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Matthew C. Beville	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Oscar Mitt	....	sound (uncredited)
Dave Moreno	....	weddington recordist (uncredited)
Steven Soderbergh	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Steven Soderbergh	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Beard	....	gaffer
Tony Brignac	....	second assistant camera
Buddy Carr	....	electrician
Gilly Charbonnet	....	grip
Michael Charbonnet	....	first assistant camera
Jonathan Coney	....	grip
Diana Gary	....	still photographer
David Jensen	....	best boy
Bennie Robertson	....	generator operator
J.D. Streett	....	key grip

Casting Department
Philip Jostrom	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Moore	....	wardrober
James Ryder	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Scott Hill	....	negative cutter
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Steve New	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Larry Blake	....	music recordist
Mark A. Mangini	....	musician: acoustic guitar (as Mark Mangini)
Sharal Churchill	....	soundtrack consultant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Susan Bonfils	....	driver
Ross Neill	....	driver

Other crew
Howard Behar	....	legal services
Melissa Benedetto	....	production assistant
Jim Brannon	....	caterer
Billy Collins Jr.	....	production accountant
Davis Guggenheim	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
John Kao	....	production executive
Louis Koerner	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Lambert	....	script supervisor
Nancy Mcintosh	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Harris M. Miller II	....	legal services (as Harris Miller)
Robert Mintz	....	completion bond
Rusty Smith	....	caterer
Harold Welb	....	production consultant

Thanks
Anne Dollard	....	dedicatee (as Ann Dollard)
John Dunn	....	special thanks
Mark A. Mangini	....	special thanks (as Mark Mangini)

Production Companies

• Outlaw Productions (I)
• Virgin

Distributors

• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• AMLF (France)
• BDM Distribution (1990) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Concorde Filmverleih (Germany)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Miramar Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Miramax Films
• Pathé (France) (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Transmundo Films (Argentina)
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (Argentina) (video)

Other Companies

• Completion Bond Company  completion guarantee
• Precision Film Cutting  negative cutting
• Sprocket Systems  foley recording
• Telecine Tech  film-to-tape transfer
• Ten Twenty Catering  catering
• Truman Van Dyke Company  production insurance
• Virgin Records  soundtrack (as Virgin Movie Music)
• Weddington Productions  post-production sound services
• Weiman Baucher Kuchel & Silber  legal services

Also Known As:

Sex, Lies... (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:10 (1989) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Outlaw Productions (I)

Trivia:

In one scene, we watch a videotaped confession by one of James Spader's character's past lovers. The director gave the script and a video camera to actress Jennifer Jason Leigh in order for her to tape the speech at home with the help of her boyfriend, but they never got around to it and, once filming began, a crew member was used in the brief role.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of ice tea in Anne's glass when she first visits Graham's house. He hands her a glass about half full and then later we see that it is filled almost completely when she almost spills it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ann: Garbage. All I've been thinking about all week is garbage. I mean, I just can't stop thinking about it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Beverly Hills, 90210: Sex, Lies and Volleyball/Photo Fini (#3.4)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Garbage

A MAGNIFICENT, UNDERRATED FILM THAT'S LIKE NOTHING I'VE EVER SEEN!!!

"sex, lies and videotape" is a low-key drama that REALLY showcases Stephen Soderbergh's true talents. The film was made on a modest budget and is mainly dialogue-driven, yet I was deeply fascinated from start to finish. This is another film that sends out a message to all aspiring directors: You don't need a large budget to make a truly great motion picture! Soderbergh hasn't received worldwide fame until recently with the hit "Traffic." As much as I loved "Traffic" I urge everyone--who's curious of Soderbergh's work--go check out this initial effort.

The element that impressed me the most was the succint, yet brutally realistic dialogue. I've never been more impressed with a film's dialogue and actually screamed out, "Now THAT'S how people talk!" The interactions between each character are so intense and down to earth, and gets the audience deeply engaged. James Spader shines in this career-making performance as a documentary filmmaker who gets his rocks off filming women talking about sex. We never know why he developed this unusual interest, but that's what's so great. And the way Spader carries his character is so subtle and powerful. His character is quiet and mysterious, and he expresses this enigmatic role perfectly with every silence, every facial gesture, every tone of voice. That's another element that I loved. Soderbergh expresses to his audience that people don't always mean what they say. And you can tell by every hint of body language. During these character interplays, you get a feel for what the characters are really thinking with their every subtle nuance. And that's what creates most of the film's tension.

And of course, the film has great depth and treats its subject with the greatest of maturity. In one scene, Spader interviews this young woman who talks about her first experience with masturbation. That could've easily been transformed into something gratuitous and heavy-handed. The subjects of sex and infidelity are treated with a sense of reality, and I'm sure many couples who are involved in relationships where one of the mates are cheating will find the whole situation with Andie McDowell and Peter Gallagher haunting. Everything is low-key and some might find the rhythm slow-moving, but that's what I liked about it. It slowly unfolds and takes its time developing the characters and their situations. Many filmmakers would've taken the subject of infidelity and made it into a melodramatic soap. But Soderbergh is very patient. He never once thinks, "Maybe the audience is not interested anymore," and speeds things up. He goes at his own pace, and works with it consistently.

I don't know if others will get the same effect I did out of this movie, but appreciate a film that respects its characters and respects its dialogue. Sure, I also appreciate a film with massive entertainment value, but other times I'd rather watch something with depth and realism. This is one of those films that just has a subtle energy. Looking at "sex, lies and videotape" from the outside, it's hard to explain the power of Soderbergh's masterpiece. All I say is go see for yourself! I hope you'll be just as astounded.

My score: 10 (out of 10)