sex, lies, and videotape 1989

Ann Bishop Mullany, portrayed by Andie MacDowell, finds herself grappling with her emotional turmoil while perched on the couch in her psychiatrist’s office in Baton Rouge. During her therapy session, she shares a peculiar and somewhat mundane dream about disposing of garbage, reflecting her growing frustration and disillusionment in her marriage. Ann admits to her therapist that she has lost interest in physical intimacy, noting that her husband, John (played by Peter Gallagher), ceased attempting to connect with her long ago. To add insult to injury, she expresses her irritation over John inviting an old friend to stay with them without her approval, though she acknowledges that he holds the reins in their relationship since he is the one paying the mortgage. As John rises through the ranks of success in his career—aspiring to become a partner in a prestigious law firm—Ann is left feeling isolated and unfulfilled as she has refrained from working herself.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Ann, John is entangled in an affair with her sister, the bold and somewhat brash Cynthia Patrice Bishop, portrayed by Laura San Giacomo. Their relationship sharply contrasts that of John and Ann; while Ann possesses a gentler demeanor, Cynthia exhibits an unabashed sensuality. The sisters share a seemingly close bond that has been marred by underlying tensions and old resentments. Although Ann remains blissfully unaware of her husband’s betrayal, her intuition whispers doubts.

Simultaneously, while Ann grapples with her insecurities in therapy, John and Cynthia indulge in their escapade. Much to John’s delight, Cynthia reveals her perverse fantasy of being intimate with him in the very bed that Ann occupies. Upon John’s return to the law office, he learns from Ann’s phone call that Graham Dalton, a free-spirited drifter played by James Spader, has arrived in town.

That evening, the trio—Ann, John, and Graham—share a tense dinner. John’s condescending remarks about Graham’s changes draw out latent tensions, particularly when Graham, with an air of defiance, states that liars are the second-worst people in the world, surpassed only by lawyers. The day after, Ann accompanies Graham in search of an apartment, revealing her growing curiosity and unease. Their conversation soon veers into the realm of sexuality, where Ann opines that women’s sexual interests are vastly misunderstood. In a surprising confession, Graham admits to his impotence, stating that he struggles to become aroused in the presence of others, a secret that unveils layers of complexity in his character.

While John is clandestinely involved with Cynthia, who provocatively refers to him as “scum” yet rushes to fulfill her desires, Ann begins unknowingly stepping into a web of emotional entanglement. On an unexpected visit to Graham’s apartment, she encounters him watching a video of one of his ex-girlfriends, unearthing a repository of unfulfilled desires and fantasies. Disturbed by this revelation and spurred by indignation, Ann warns Cynthia against getting entangled with Graham, insisting that her sister heed her advice. Despite this warning, Cynthia, consumed by intrigue, ventures out to meet him.

After an exhilarating and provocative session with Graham, where Cynthia narrates her first sexual experiences on camera, the sense of unease builds. Cynthia, giddy with excitement, pressures John for intimacy while he juggles the demands of his job, demonstrating how deeply fractured their relationship has become. As deceit intertwines with vulnerability, Ann’s suspicions about infidelity and betrayal begin to solidify with the discovery of Cynthia’s pearl earring lodged in the vacuum cleaner, leading her to confront the cold, hard truth.

In a turning point, Ann seeks out Graham in hopes of creating her own videotape, prompting the two to explore their buried desires. Graham, despite his initial hesitation, finds himself drawn to Ann’s emotional openness. Tensions escalate when John, upon discovering Ann’s own tape, storms into Graham’s apartment, igniting a confrontation that reveals the deep-seated resentments on both sides. Through Ann’s candid revelations about her unfulfilled desires, including her lack of orgasms—even with John—simmering tensions surface as each character confronts their past choices and mistakes.

As the clouds of betrayal thicken, John’s own precarious situation looms over him, leading to the potential loss of his career. In a poignant moment of reckoning, Ann chooses to mend her relationship with Cynthia, setting the stage for forgiveness and an uncomfortable truce. Meanwhile, as Ann reconnects with Graham, they begin to navigate their journey together, hand in hand, as the rain begins to pour—a fitting metaphor for the cleansing of past sins and the dawning of new possibilities.