Blog Five - Sex, Lies, and Videotape

This particular scene, from Sex, Lies, and Videotape by Steven Soderbergh, is undeniably driven by John. He has just caught up with his old college friend and he is obviously very disturbed at Graham's new appearance and lifestyle. His desire is to undermine and isolate Graham. Graham on the other hand ridicules and pokes into John and Ann's lifestyle and marriage. Ann for her part plays a less significant area of activity than the two men, but when she does intervene, its to help Graham, not her husband John. Even at this early scene it is becoming obvious that Graham and Ann connect. For Value, a possibility might be that of responsibilities and duty. At first John is trying hard to make it seem as if Graham has none at all, most likely because of his dress and 'split' from normal, good society, a.k.a. Johns type of lifestyle. By the end of the scene Graham has reversed this with his quick retort to John's question "Do you pay taxes?". Graham has pointed the finger of disgust to lawyers, and in reality, John. John then imposes a fake responsibility on Ann by asking her to take John out to search for housing so he and her sister can use the house for sex. This tax exchange is without a doubt the scene's turning point.
When analyzing this script I think both McKee's and Weston's came very much in hand. This is not to say though that I feel the same about the two. I had the notion at first, that I would much prefer McKee's because of what seemed a smaller, more condensed analysis, that I guess I hoped would be concise and easier to understand. The opposite is true. With great respect to McKee and his writing I found this particular piece vague and a bit abstract. Weston on the other hand was much easier to appreciate, for it was by far more specific and in-depth, and gave incredible insight into the scene, its subtexts, and its hidden truths.

-Matthew Ballinger

Discussion Questions
1. Kinda of a dumb question, but one that I was wondering when finished with the script, how is it, do you think, that Graham makes money?

2. Did you find it interesting that Sex, Lies, and Videotape, a great script I thought, had only about five characters in the entire movie?