'Sex, Lies and Videotape' is a film that was very controversial for it's day, and now it's just kind of mild. The film explores the sexual aspects of four people, Ann (Andie MacDowell - Groundhog's Day), John (Peter Gallagher - American Beauty), Cynthia (Laura San Giacamo - TV's 'Just Shoot Me') and Graham (James Spader - TV's Boston Legal). Ann and John are happily married on the outside, but not on the inside. Ann is seeing a psychiatrist, and John is being unfaithful to his wife with her sister, Cynthia. All their secrets get unearthed when Graham, an old college buddy of John's, comes into town with his video camera and his curiosity. That's about all of the film I'll tell you. I don't want to give anything away, so that you will get more out of the film when viewing it. Steven Sodebergh does a decent job with his directorial debut, some elements of his directing were really sloppy while others ran smoothly. The dialogue is pitch-perfect, but the film drags a lot during the middle. The saving grace of 'Sex, Lies and Videotape' is definitely the acting. James Spader gives his finest performance as the intricate Graham while Andie MacDowell perfects her role of the puritan-like housewife who deep down has a burning curiosity for sex. The supporting actors of the film are Peter Gallagher who does a totally believable job as the lowest form of life on the planet, a lawyer, while Laura San Giacamo also very believable as a "loose" woman. All actors perfect their roles, Spader and McDowell more noticeably in roles that should have won them Academy Award Nominations. 'Sex, Lies & Videotape' has some major flaws and short-comings but overall it's a pretty good film. It was nominated for one Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Grade: B