"sex, lies and videotape" (1989) - Movie Review

When some one cheats over her/his loved ones, the action is not the main factor to instigate the extreme anger on other party but the thought of doing it. The thought of betrayal, the thought of thinking for a considerable time that the other party is insignificant and negating the mode to communicate and discuss the issue to be solved. Relationships are hard and sustaining it over a period of time needs enormous work from both parties. When one of the person has been totally shunned out of the real world and when he/she comes in contact with a real person in that world of the same character, there ignites mystification and curiosity. They might want to play around with the fire even if it is risky and betrayal of conscience. The thought of doing it and actually doing it is the difference. The difference is also the attempt to talk about it and solve it. The thought and action is this film.

Every one has regrets and every one wants to change. People take an effort to change and design themselves to be right. Some people do it for some time and give up. Others try so hard and work towards it that there is a considerable effort visible in their simplest of actions. This is Graham (James Spader) whose past is unknown but definitely he has done lot of mistakes. The film presents him as a cleansed man. It is strange to get that feeling out of his character. I guess it is because of the way he carries himself. He is so honest and candid that his peace is evident. Sure he does have problems but the tranquility in his mind is visible and that is prominent. He does not keep himself into a shell as Ann (Andie MacDowell) and at the same time does not test the limits in actions and speech as Ann’s sister Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo). He is the “Zen Master” as Cynthia refers him in one sequence. It may be intended to tease him but there is lot of truth attached to it. He is alone yet he is friendly and open. He does not drive away people by unexplainable actions but his truth does.

I guess any one would be paranoid when they see video tapes at his home and his acceptance of taping women speaking about their sexual experiences. This drives Ann away who gave her the sensation of being real. She is married to John (Peter Gallgher) but does not know whether she is happy or not. Her therapist listens but I guess she needs guidance. This is provided in a subtle way by Graham. The main reason Ann opens up for moments with him is his non-judgmental eyes. Still she does not want to accept those. She is conservative by choice. She has been the big sister and the superlative control of it confuses her. It does because she is not the person who is right now talking unusual thoughts to a therapist. While Cynthia is the total opposite of Ann, she of course hides her true character too. She is outspoken and “loud” as her sister says. She wants to hurt her sister and feel good about it. She does it by sleeping with John. In between these two John does not give a damn about anything except sex. His emotional inclination is next to null. He is all smiles and inviting but his lying skills dig deeper than that.

These are the four characters and their lives of course get new dimensions. The film could have been yet another dramatic and sympathetic story of a house wife getting cheated while opting for the affair. But this is the strangest and lucid way of handling those complicated situations. Of course Ann drives John to an affair and she expects it too. What one cannot accept is the lying which goes behind it. A movie with a title of “sex, lies and video tape” cannot be more self explanatory. It gives away lot of things but it is a new way of handling it. Strangely enough there is little to nothing nudity in the picture. But the movie talks a lot about sex. At the end of it, sex is everything and nothing. It is the passion which drives people over their mind, but it is also the unifying character of bringing right people at the right place. There is something so solid and truth attached to what Cynthia says during her tape session with Graham. It reveals her and explains her affair very clearly. It is crude and yet honest and emotional.

Steven Soderbergh stirred the world of independent cinema by this movie during the 90s. The title is self absorbing and it seems he wrote the whole script in eight days even though he had the thought of the story for a year. It is clear on how much content and thought process took him to sketch it out to specifics in eight days. The style of sound of the next scene coming at the end of the current scene brings in some new movie experience. And the editing is innovative. For example the final scene wherein the tape is getting viewed, instead of showing everything on tape, they shift to on the scene mode in it. I do not know whether showing it in the TV screen would have been more appealing, but switching to on the scene is more explanatory and demanding. It is the scene wherein everything comes to light in an emotional and sexual way. That needs more than TV screen. It is thoughtful and risky at the same time.

There is a beauty when John says the most “crushing” thing to Graham. It can be true since everything is done or it can be a lie, since he is used to it and wants to hurt Graham. But the truth is, it is does not really matter to Graham. Of course it would have brought some cringing muscles in his face but the man he is, it is nothing but lines. It does not matter what happened nine years ago, because he does not give a damn anymore.