sex, lies, and videotape [WS]

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Overview

"Steven Soderbergh's feature debut, sex, lies and videotape, a major hit in the early independent film circuit, comes to DVD with some very nice results. Though the image, with both a full frame version and the preferred anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen, may not be reference material, there is no question that Columbia/TriStar has done exceptional work with the picture. Colors are vibrant and real. On the other hand, darks are not quite as solid as they should be, but are never a distraction. The sound, with a new four-channel surround track is more alive than previous mixes, but is still basically centered up front with little use of the surround channels. This is more of a result of the original available materials and certainly nothing to find complaints in. The extra materials are not extensive, but welcome. Other than the theatrical trailer there is a nice scene specific commentary track from Soderbergh and fellow director and friend Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty). They are very loose and talkative, not only about the choices made in making this film, but in their overall professions. It is a pleasure to listen to these two men, and their love of film and the filmmaking process is clearly evident."

Product Details

Release Date:	08/31/2004
UPC:	0043396904897
Original Release:	1989
Rating:	R
Source:	Sony Pictures
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:39:00

Special Features

Theatrical trailer; Scene selections; Commentary by Steven Soderbergh

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

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

Technical Credits

Steven Soderbergh

John Hardy	Producer,Producer
Morgan Mason	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Robert Newmyer	Producer,Producer
Nancy Tenenbaum	Executive Producer,Executive Producer,Producer,Producer
Nick Wechsler	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Steven Soderbergh	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Deborah Aquila	Casting,Casting
Paul Ledford	Sound Mixer,Sound Mixer

Scene Index

Side #1-Widescreen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [2:56]
2. A Little Secret [1:34]
3. Why Ann's angry [3:26]
4. Cooling it [2:24]
5. Graham arrives [4:20]
6. Table talk [4:52]
7. Month-to-month [:50]
8. Her sister's bed [2:18]
9. Something personal [5:00]
10. Night watch [2:25]
11. Questions [3:39]
12. Graham's project [6:15]
13. Cynthia meets Graham [4:51]
14. Interviewing Cynthia [4:49]
15. Playback [1:54]
16. Reporting to Ann [2:08]
17. A present for Mom [8:05]
18. Making a big deal [4:27]
19. The earring [2:32]
20. "Let's make a video." [4:10]
21. "I want out." [2:34]
22. Playing the tape [3:17]
23. Why Graham's impotent [3:21]
24. Resolution [6:29]
25. Cured [4:09]
26. Project's end [:49]
27. Business setbacks [1:38]
28. At the Bayou [4:24]
Side #2-Full Screen
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [2:56]
2. A little secret [1:34]
3. Why Ann's angry [3:26]
4. Cooling it [2:24]
5. Graham arrives [4:20]
6. Table talk [4:52]
7. Month-to-month [:50]
8. Her sister's bed [2:18]
9. Something personal [5:00]
10. Night watch [2:25]
11. Questions [3:39]
12. Graham's project [6:15]
13. Cynthia meets Graham [4:51]
14. Interviewing Cynthia [4:49]
15. Playback [1:54]
16. Reporting to Ann [2:08]
17. A present for Mom [8:05]
18. Making a big deal [4:27]
19. The earring [2:32]
20. "Let's make a video." [4:10]
21. "I want out." [2:34]
22. Playing the tape [3:17]
23. Why Graham's impotent [3:21]
24. Resolution [6:29]
25. Cured [4:09]
26. Project's end [:49]
27. Business setbacks [1:38]
28. At the Bayou [4:24]

Menu

Side #1-Widescreen
Play Movie
Lanugages/Audio Setup
Subtitles
Extra Features
Filmmaker's Commentary
Commentary Off
Theatrical Trailer
Side #2-Full Screen
Play Movie
Languages/Audio Setup
Subtitles
Extra Features
Filmmaker's Commentary
Commentary Off
Theatrical Trailer

Editorial Reviews

The feature debut by 26-year-old writer/director/editor Steven Soderbergh galvanized the independent film movement of the late '80s and '90s with its breakout success leading out of the Sundance Film Festival. Soderbergh's late twentysomethings are so alienated and sexually dysfunctional that voyeuristic, videotaping onanist Graham's professions of relative healthiness ring ironically true. In these warped lives, the mediating presence of the video camera becomes a means to self-awareness, yet human connection can happen only via a machine. Winner of the Audience Prize at Sundance, sex, lies and videotape commanded international attention by winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival (as well as the Best Actor prize for James Spader's subtle performance as Graham), setting the stage for the award-winning prominence of American independent cinema at the Cannes festival in subsequent years. Picked up and aggressively marketed by Miramax, sex, lies and videotape grossed 26 million dollars, raising the bar for an "indie" hit, establishing Miramax as the most prominent purveyor and savvy marketer of independent film, and refocusing attention on non-Hollywood product as a vital creative and entertainment alternative to blockbusters.