sex, lies, and videotape

Rating:
Summary: "HOT"vs"FRIGID", An On-Screen Tag Team.
Review: This quietly riveting, intellectually stimulating masterpiece of erotic drama put the now famous director Steven Soderbergh on the Hollywood map. Rightfully so, as it's four central characters pull you into an intriguing plotline filled with just what the appropriate title has promised. ................ John, played by uni-brow actor Peter Gallagher in a low-brow performance, is a career minded, self-centered lawyer married to uptight southern girl Ann (Andie MacDowell). Ann has a flaky and sexually liberated sister named Cynthia, "Just Shoot Me" alum Laura San Giacomo. What Ann DOESN'T know, is how she is being mocked and scorned by both her husband, and her sister as they secretly meet for torrid, forbidden sexual encounters. Cynthia takes a perverse pleasure in this duplicity, especially in her sisters bed. The disregard these two have for those who are affected by their affair is shamelessly cruel. I really dislike Gallagher's John, which means he plays his role well. ................ The games begin when Graham, an old collegiate buddy of John's, comes to town for a visit. Graham is wonderfully played by the incredible James Spader, a personal favorite of mine. Graham has a bit of a problem though, he's impotent. (Now, I must say, Spader playing an impotent character is a bit of a reach, but I'm not complaining!) The only way he can be gratified sexually, is by videotaping women talking about their personal sexual experiences, hence the third item in the film title. .............. As I said, the movie is quietly fascinating. One of the oddest things about it, is the complete LACK of any sort of musical score within. It seems to draw you into the plot even more, since there's little else to distract ones attention. ............... I like Spader's character the best, not just because I'm partial to the actor, but because he played the most complex and interesting character. He is also at his sexiest here, all dressed in black shirt, jeans, and his blonde hair longish and VERY sexy. His impotence in the movie, is like a companion to Andie MacDowell's Ann characters frigidity. Together, they find a way to overcome the deceit around them. ............. This is an unusual film, controversial in its time, but rather tame by todays standard fare. It's a good choice when you're in the mood for a little food for thought, or a quiet relaxing movie experience. I say this because you have to be in the mood for this sort of film. Save it for your quietest moment when you can fully appreciate it.

Rating:
Summary: angst for the memories
Review: when historians or martians or whoever sort through the detritus of the 20th century, they will puzzle over how such simple conflicts could cause such complex anxieties. this film, should it survive, will serve as quite the time capsulization of the post-baby-boom / generation x angst. yes, the story and plot are deceptively simple. yes, the actors--especially Cannes-Festival winner James Spader--opt for subtlety over bombast. but after several viewings in a theater, on video and on DVD, this film continues to stand up as a testament to the conflicts of its time. some may be bored. some, like me, may be moved to tears. less, here, is so much more. an astonishing debut for writer/director steven soderberg.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful, a glance at inhibitions and the power of truth.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: interesting movie
Review: When I saw this the first time, I had really liked it. So I purchased it. Seeing it the second time I was not that impressed.

Rating:
Summary: from baton rouge director steven soderberg...
Review: who would've thought the oscar winning director's first movie would be about of all things baton rouge yuppies? and yet i like this movie because it doesn't rely on gimmicks or special effects, but just a good story and great acting...james spader is so used to playing heavies, it's refreshing to see him vulnerable, as you will here...secretly, some people relish the chance to be a voyeur , to live through other people's fantasies...james and andie macdowell make a very nice couple in the film...also the city of baton rouge is shot rather nicely ( examples: scenes of the garden district near LSU, the opening scene of james' character as he enters baton rouge across the mississippi river bridge )...if you pay attention to the scene where laura san giacomo is tending bar, that club is the bayou...one of my favorite pubs when i was in college....this is one of the better "baton rouge" films to come along recently....

Rating:
Summary: One of the most erotic films of all time--and without nudity
Review: Without showing any flesh, Steven Soderbergh has managed to make an erotic classic of the sexiest kind. The movie is so full of erotic tension and dialogue, it doesn't have to expose anyone to get it's message across. A breakthrough film at the time, and while many other flesh filled boinkfests have appeared since then, none have been as original or stimulating. Soderbergh's first and best film. From what I've seen in the rest of this films, he may never top this.

The acting performances are all dead on and completely believable. While James Spader wins the awards and acting accolades, I think it's Andie MacDowell that makes this film.