Rent Sex, Lies, and Videotape on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Steven Soderbergh
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, Laura San Giacomo
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
The surprising relationship between a troubled married couple, her sister, and his old college friend is revealed in sex, lies, and videotape.
Verdict
This begins with a troubled marriage that dissolves, hastened by other people in the couple's orbit. The reason comes down to sex and lies. That's the push and pull on the relationships. This develops four characters that are all inextricably linked. I like the parts of the movie more than the whole. It's an uncomfortable movie, and it's supposed to be. We either dislike or feel bad for the characters.
It depends.
Review
This was Soderbergh's directorial debut. He'd go on to direct Contagion, Erin Brokovich, Ocean's Eleven, and Logan Lucky among others.
Married couple John (Peter Gallagher) and Ann (Andie MacDowell) have issues. He no longer touches her, and that has only galvanized her by making the thought of sex with her husband repulsive. The reason John is no longer interested? He has someone else.
John's friend Graham (James Spader) comes to town. Ann is initially irritated John didn't ask her. Ann begins to like Graham, surprised at how different the friends have become. Ann likes him in part because he isn't like John. John is frustrated with Graham because Graham isn't chasing the typical life goals. There's also strife between Ann and her sister Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo). It's a bit of competition with Cynthia more outgoing, having something to prove to Ann. We see that when Cynthia realizes Ann likes Graham and intends to woo him despite Ann not willing to act on her fillings, bound by her marriage.
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| Peter Gallagher, Laura San Giacomo play John, Cynthia |
Ann's interest in Graham leads to her finding a reason to visit him. She discovers his interviews with woman about sex. He never shows anyone else, a promise he made to get the interviews. He's fascinated by the honesty, these intimate moments. Nothing happens physically between Cynthia and Graham, but Cynthia makes a tape with him. She's acting out in part to spite her sister. It's a contrast to Ann where the tapes made her uncomfortable.
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| James Spader, Andie MacDowell play Graham, Ann |
Ann suspects John of cheating, of course he denies and deflects. She goes to Graham to make a tape. It's part confession, part freedom. Ann then confronts John who flies into a rage and confronts Graham. John has no one other than himself to blame. He created this situation by cheating on his wife, and to a lesser degree inviting his friend to stay which gave Ann an outlet. John doesn't want to accept his responsibility and displaces that and his anger towards Ann for making a tape on Graham. Really, he's mad that Graham contributed to Ann realizing her worth. John had control, and lost it. That's why he's upset.
This ends with Ann visiting Graham. It's easy to guess she and John are over. Maybe Ann and Graham can find something in each other that they couldn't find anywhere else. The role of the tapes was an outlet. It's a confession to a camera instead of a person. The camera isn't what ended any relationships in this movie, it only hastened the inevitable by revealing the truth more quickly.
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