Though this was the second time I’ve seen sex, lies, and videotape, it really felt
like the first. The first time I saw it (probably in college or maybe even high
school) I thought it was a little dull and unmemorable. I didn’t get what all
the fuss was about. Sundance Audience Award winner? Cannes Film Festival Palme
d’Or winner? But then priorities and taste change and suddenly a
character-driven drama filmed on a low budget about a man (Peter Gallagher) cheating
on his wife (Andie MacDowell) with her sister (Laura San Giacomo) and the old
friend (James Spader) who comes to visit and, with his eccentric personality,
serves as a catalyst for change is a lot more interesting. Maybe when I was a
teenager I was hoping for a lot more out of the sex part of the title. There’s
plenty of sex talk, but not a lot of flesh. Like I said, priorities change.
