Sex, Lies, and Videotape

Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)Directed by Steven Soderbergh

1)   Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Sex, Lies and Videotape is often given credit for starting the independent film boom; the films content (sex) took center stage. Surprisingly, the film had a better cost-to-earnings ratio than the year’s box office hit: Tim Burton’s Batman. Essentially, the story is of john- a lawyer who invites his old college buddy Graham to stay with him for a visit. At the true core of the story are two sisters, Ann, John’s sexually suppressed wife and Cynthia her sex fueled sister who John is having an affair with. The two women are on opposite ends of the sexual spectrum but soon come to terms with where they lie and where they wish to be.

Graham is impotent, but is aroused by having women discuss their sexuality on tape. When Cynthia and Ann become his subjects everyone’s secrets are aired out, and the façade of a structured life is broken down. The film gave indie films greater value. Soderbergh also followed an atypical career path. Most filmmakers make an indie film, and then garner the attention of major studios and move on to big budget affairs. Soderbergh spent his career going from big hits to little films that caught his attention, experimenting with various genres along the way. Today he is “retired” from filmmaking, but what is left for him remains to be seen.

2)   Find a related article and summarize the content

How Steven Soderbergh’s ’sex, lies and videotape’ Still Influences Sundance After 25 Years

By… Sean Axmaker

Link to the article = http://www.indiewire.com/article/how-steven-soderberghs-sex-lies-and-videotape-still-influences-sundance-after-25-years

Sean Axmaker’s article puts Soderbergh’s indie darling under the microscope. He looks at the undeniable impact the film had on the Sundance Film Festival (and the many other indie festivals of its ilk). The question he poses is whether or not the now fad-heavy festival made the film or vice versa. In 1989 the indie circuit isn’t what it is today, and that year was heavy with now classic, or cult classic independent films – Do the Right Thing debuted the very same year.

Despite the films name there are no blatant sex scenes to be found, despite being marketed as such. Instead the movie touches down on the subject matter of sex, but includes lying, fidelity, self-discovery, and intimacy or a lack thereof in some cases. He approached the subject directly and honestly. The cast didn’t consist of unknowns, but by no means were the actor’s studio gold.

The film’s success made the Sundance film festival an industry event, making news headlines yearly taking note of the “it” films of the moment. It now consists of megastars pet projects, regional films, and the “little films that could”. Today, the American indie film is a brand, a genre all its own.

Even with the current hipster-esque artistic wannabe culture surrounding these festivals, there is still room for quality films. Fruitvale Station, Little Miss Sunshine, and Winter’s Bone are just a few examples of indie films of great quality and influential themes. Yet this indie explosion isn’t all good news; the industry now consists of a few mega blockbusters eating up a large portion of the pie, with a flood of indie films vying for what’s left. Industry historian Peter Biskind referred to the film as the "big bang of the modern indie film movement,”

3)   Apply the article to the film screened in class

By no means is Sex, Lies, and Videotape a paragon of independent film. Yet, look at many independent films today and you can almost see the characteristics found in the film. Limited budgets are what these films are mostly noted for, with roughly 1.2 million to work with that would seem to fit the bill. It also established other facets of the indie film: It was simple in its approach, contained small scenes with minimal casts – in this case a core of four characters, it touched on adult issues and managed to get its story across in a minimalistic fashion.

Most notably, these films often face issues in contemporary culture. Do the Right thing for example, took on bigotry and police brutality, Fruitvale station did as well. They often turn the camera back on the world we live in, although with a dramatic flair. Homosexuality, racism, greed, inequality and injustice in any form it may take are all up for cinematic portrayal. Sex and Lies did so by showcasing a cheating husband, his prudish wife, her sex charged sister, and a man in fear of true intimacy who threw a monkey wrench into the entire arrangement.

Regardless of what the current state of independent films today may be, Soderbergh’s indie breakout should be given its due for making the independent festival what it is today. Tribeca, Caan, and yes Sundance have exploded as major events to the industry.

4)   Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussion, text material and the article.

As far as impact goes, I understand how Sex, Lies, and Videotape took the entirety of the movie industry a step forward. It touched on provocative themes like intimacy, infidelity, and sexual discovery. It used relatively small actors and managed to provide what some consider a good film with a miniscule budget. Trust me, I get it. With that being said I absolutely could not get on board with this film.

“Pretentious” is often used to describe this film, and I couldn’t agree more. A film can have a great theme but it all comes down to how it is delivered, the quality is in the actual doing. The film was trying too hard to be provocative, I could not identify with these characters and James Spader who normally is superb in all his creepy glory, is just plain creepy. His every conversation is awkward, the intention was to have witty realistic dialogue, but instead every conversation graham has is like pulling teeth. Every thought, idea, and notion gets an obstinate glance from Graham, as if he struggles to respond to even the simplest of questions. He was a hipster before hipsters were common, I hated this character. John is a scumbag of the highest order, feeling sorry for himself at every opportunity despite the fact that all his problems were self-inflicted. Ann was a prude to sheer annoyance, every word or utterance even remotely sexual resulted in a bashful giggle. Her sister is the definition of a tramp, and has the gall to call john on his cheating ways. The only redeeming quality this film has is for independent filmmakers, it can serve as a great example of a little film that can make it.

A small film doesn’t have to limit filmmaking. Instead the limitations can actually foster inspiration. Being forced to work within the confines of a budget can force writers and/or directors to rein it in, focusing on the core of what makes the story. Not a bad thing by any means.

Plagiarism Statement:  Attach this statement to the end of each journal assignment. CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Benjamin Novoa                   Date: 3/11/14