Watch Sex, Lice and Videotape

Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a 1989 independent film directed by Steven Soderbergh, which tells the story of four characters who are deeply affected by issues of love and sexuality. The movie was one of the most critically acclaimed films of the 1980s and won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows John (played by James Spader), a strange and mysterious man who has moved back to his hometown of Baton Rouge after a long absence. John is a highly intelligent, yet intensely introverted man who has an unusual predilection for filming women as they talk about their sexual experiences. This is where the "videotape" of the title comes in, as John has a collection of tapes that he has made with various women.

John's old college friend, Graham (Peter Gallagher), now an attractive and successful lawyer, invites John to dinner, where they reconnect with each other and meet Graham's wife, Ann (Andie MacDowell). Ann is an unhappy housewife who seems to have lost her spark and is stuck in a stale marriage with Graham. The film explores the complexities of these four characters as they become entangled in a web of lies, secrets and deceptions.

John is clearly the most enigmatic of the four. He is emotionally distant and withdrawn, reflecting the typical traits of someone living with depression. John's character was unique for his time because he challenges the traditional male protagonist who is usually both assertive and powerful in movies. Instead, John is weak, almost helpless and introverted; he doesn't actually experience sex on a physical level but through a camera lens. On the other hand, Graham is your typical confident male character who exudes power, charm and charisma. He seems to have everything going for him on the surface, but as the movie progresses, he starts to reveal his own set of problems.

Ann's character is the most dynamic of the three. She starts out as the typical housewife stereotype, somewhat bored and unhappy with life. As the plot unfolds, she becomes more adventurous as she starts to share more about herself with John, something she never does with her husband. Her outward appearance of the typical southern belle is beyond the façade. Despite her perceived outward beauty and put-together lifestyle, Ann has her own struggles and desires to be heard, validated and connected to others.

Throughout the movie, all of the characters’ complexities spill out, one emotion at a time, with John holding the curiosity of the viewer. Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a study of human nature and the multi-faceted nature of relationships. As each of the characters' skeletons are revealed, they each become more vulnerable and human, reflecting our own struggles with intimacy and love.

Steven Soderbergh’s directing style was unconventional and inventive, especially for a first-time filmmaker. The cinematography is striking, with its use of shadows and light, often leaving subtle hints about each protagonist’s personality traits. The film's stripped-down aesthetic, including the lack of a musical score and minimal set design, gives the movie an almost documentary-like feel, allowing the focus to be on the raw emotions and interactions of the characters.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape was groundbreaking in the way that it explored sexuality and relationships. In the 80s, Hollywood was known for producing cheesy, feel-good movies, while Sex, Lies, and Videotape was challenging the audience with its deep exploration of humanity, intimacy, and raw emotions.

Overall, Sex, Lies, and Videotape is an artful piece of cinema that deals with complex issues, from the breakdown of human relationships to the taboo subject of sex, in a subtle yet powerful manner. It is a must-watch for any movie lover, especially for those interested in independent cinema, and was a significant achievement for independent cinema in tackling issues and themes that were often ignored in major Hollywood films.