MovieChat Forums > Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) Discussion > Lack of sex scenes

Lack of sex scenes

posted 19 years ago by Radiant_Rose
10 replies | jump to latest

Someone explained that the distributors wanted more female nudity but by that time Andie and Laura had already been cast and they did not want to do it. Which they are absolutely entitled to do. If directors want nudity, they should make that clear right at the beginning.
That makes it sound like the film's coyness, which some people like and some people seem less keen about, came about by chance.
But it doesn't quite explain the lack of sex scenes as the term is conventionally understood. I mean, quite a lot of the scenes are sexy, but they aren't sex scenes as in film stars saying, "Yes, it was terribly embarrassing, but we were wearing flesh-coloured underwear and the camera people made it look as if more was going on than really was". That can't be explained so easily. I can't remember if I ever saw Ms MacDowell in a sex scene, if she did it was clearly not memorable. However, Laura San Giacomo had a fake sex scene on a stepladder in "Nina Takes A Lover", Peter Gallagher faked sex with Annette Bening in "American Beauty", and I really don't have time to list how many films where James Spader has faked sex with people or things or himself!!! Clearly, those 3 are not against having to fake having sex.
So, I am left wondering why, if Steven Soderbergh had chosen to leave out fake sex, he was allegedly tempted to introduce more female nudity??????

[–] Radiant_Rose 18 years ago

This is still a mystery.
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Nicebat and I had to party.

[–] indymovies 18 years ago

So I am left wondering why, if Steven Soderbergh had chosen to leave out fake sex, he was allegedly tempted to introduce more female nudity???????

Maybe he was pressured by the distributers but was able to stay with what he wanted by confirming that Andie and Laura didn't want to do it. Miramax, the disributers in question, were a lifeline to a number of indie movies but they did put a lot pressure to change things to make the movie more 'commercial'.

I feel Soderbergh was right. He kept the audience's attention on what was being said rather than have them distracted by what they were seeing.

[–] Radiant_Rose 18 years ago

I wonder if he could have used that excuse if Andie or Laura had said, "Oooh, okay, I'll get my kit off!" I am pretty sure Laura has never done nude scenes as there is a thread on her site re whether anyone has ever seen her naked. Someone replied, "Yes, her husband and her doctor!"

Technically speaking, however, I don't see why a doctor would need to see you entirely naked. Surely they wouldn't need to examine all of you at once.
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Nicebat and I had to party.

[–] SexyActorsJunkie 15 years ago

However it wound up happening (and I'd like to believe it was the director's original choice) I'm amazed that I consider this one of the very sexiest movies I've ever seen, and it's surprisingly so non-graphic. Better than most films around, this one expertly stimulates the most important sex organ of all- the mind.

You've had an effect on my life.

[–] ChitoRaffferty 15 years ago

Soderberg has witten that the distributor felt it would be hard to market in Europe without nudity. So they wanted him to do a few scenes, even though he'd promissed the females they didn't have to.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Patrick_Bateman718 14 years ago

What?

[–] Jockey1 14 years ago

"However it wound up happening (and I'd like to believe it was the director's original choice) I'm amazed that I consider this one of the very sexiest movies I've ever seen, and it's surprisingly so non-graphic. Better than most films around, this one expertly stimulates the most important sex organ of all- the mind."

I agree completely. Knowing the general gist of the story and subject matter, I definitely expected more nude/ sex scenes (especially as they did seem to be a bit more acceptable in other films around the same time, there seemed to have to be an obligatory sex scene!) I agree though, despite the fact there was pretty much no nudity and no real sex on screen, it is an amazingly sexy film. But then maybe thats what they were trying to put across with Graham. He got his kicks from interviewing and watching women talk about sex...thats what we watch for a big chunk of the film!

I suppose its the same as horror. Some horror films are scarier than others because they choose not to show you what you're scared of, your imagination has more power to scare than special effects do. In a way, maybe thats what this film does. The mere power of suggestion is sexier than watching it being played out.

[–] Tridentmovies 14 years ago

"I can't remember if I ever saw Ms MacDowell in a sex scene, if she did it was clearly not memorable."

Andie MacDowell had a sex-scene in "Ruby Cairo" with Viggo Mortensen, and it was the only good thing about that movie.

She also did some sex-type scenes in "Crush".

[–] hereminton 10 years ago

I'm not sure, but this thread reminds me of the great nude scene in Open Water, where Blanchard Ryan is completely nude laying on a bed with her boyfriend, but still states that she does not want any sex that night.

"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park