Sex, Lies, and Videotape

Dir: Steven Soderbergh, 1989 (8.2*)
Palm D’Or (Cannes)

James Spader, as Graham, currently jobless and alienated, connects with old friend John (Peter Gallagher), is an attorney having an affair with the sister (Laura San Giocomo), of his wife, Andie McDowell. The wife finds a friendship with Graham, and finds that he makes videotapes of women being interviewed about intimate subjects, in a kind of video therapy. All are changed by subsequent revelations. A slow, intellectual film, this is mostly conversation, which will bore some people, but enthrall others, hence the awards it received. Excellent filmmaking.