Sex, Lies, and Videotape 1989

Caryn James, New York Times: A film whose enormous authority and intelligence extend to every detail. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: Lean, economical, relatively unpretentious (or at least pretentiously unpretentious), and purposefully small-scale. Read more

David Ansen, Newsweek: Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It is never boring, and there are moments when it reminds us of how sexy the movies used to be, back in the days when speech was an erogenous zone. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: What amazes is that at just 26, Soderbergh displays the three qualities associated with mature filmmakers: a unique authorial voice, a spooky camera assurance, and the easy control of ensemble acting. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: The actors are superb; working from Soderbergh's funny, perceptive, immaculately wrought dialogue, they ensure that the film stimulates both intellectually and emotionally. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: This is a sexy, nuanced, beautifully controlled examination of how a quartet of people are defined by their erotic impulses and inhibitions. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Wwriter/director/editor Soderbergh has composed a wry, highly watchable piece that comes across as a great first effort by a film-school graduate. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: Inspired chitchat, a barefaced Louisiana gabfest written and directed by Steven Soderbergh, a 26-year-old Wunderkind preoccupied with l'amour. Read more