James Spaders character revealed this about himself toward the end, about how he use to be, and i always wondered how ca
-
filmprincess — 17 years ago(May 19, 2008 07:28 PM)
like, 60 to 80% of all communication is nonverbal. you just don't realize it.
Yes, and this is particularly effective when a
actor
happens to possess a talent for conveying emotions nonverbally. I always enjoy these types of films. Sometimes an extremely good script allows the actors to convey underlying subtext. Also, I think it requires a
very talented
actor to pull this off. I think this movie is a great example; and, James Spader is always very effective at conveying emotions via underlying subtext.
Another great example of this would be Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis in
Witness
. It's a thing of great beauty; and unfortunately, not something we see very often. I'm sure there are others; I just can't think of them at the moment.
Finally, I recently watched
sex, lies, and videotape
again after all these years. I initially thought it might not age all that well; but to my surprise, it certainly has. It still remains a classic in my book. And James Spader, well, what can I say? He's a truly gifted actor.
"I've been following in footsteps all my life. Save me, Sabrina fair, you're the only one who can." -
Jem333 — 17 years ago(June 08, 2008 01:00 PM)
I agree with the post-ers who interpreted Graham's "non-verbal" expression of his feelings as a euphemism for violence, probably violence against women in particular. But Soderbergh seems purposely ambiguous in this film; that's one of the many things I like about it.
I've always wondered what John meant at his and Ann's first (only?) dinner with Graham, when he said that Graham held services in the chapel on weekends on a regular basis, or something like that Did he mean literal religious services, i.e. was Graham extremely religious in college as well as violent with women? Or was that another euphemism for some kind of weird pagan, i.e. sexual, activities in that chapel?
And when John said to Graham
: "What would the Greeks think of your somber attire?" did this mean that Graham and John were in a fraternity together, or anti-fraternity, or ??? -
Radiant_Rose — 17 years ago(June 09, 2008 04:49 AM)
My take on it is that there was something sexual going on behind that chapel. That line replaced the original one in the script book about unicycling naked.
I was thinking of the Ancient Greeks, so thank you for suggesting fraternities.
But then, I am utterly convinced that Graham wouldn't mince word if he had a history of violence. Nowhere else in the story does he gloss over things. It isn't dishonest to refuse to answer a question, but his version of honesty means saying things even if it makes the situation awkward.
"CSI" helped my DIY!!! -
Radiant_Rose — 17 years ago(June 11, 2008 05:25 AM)
violence to people rather than objects, he would have said so. He didn't mind admitting to impotence or to what the videotapes were for or to having known about Cynthia's affair with John. If Ann had asked him about the affair, I am sure he would have told her what he knew. Where Ann has asked him questions, he has provided honest answers even where they do not show him in a good light.
Okay, the bit about the money was a bit obscure, but I gather that dates from an earlier script where we were told about the source and then Soderbergh changed his mind.
But we do not have to agree about this. It's a film.
"CSI" helped my DIY!!! -
AssetsonFire — 11 years ago(September 21, 2014 04:26 PM)
And 93% of all statistics are pulled out of thin air. How one Earth does one quantify such a vague concept as non-verbal communication?
~.~
There were three of us in this marriage
http://www.imdb.com/list/ze4EduNaQ-s/ -
haszarathustra — 17 years ago(August 03, 2008 12:43 PM)
i think graham and his fraternity -with a big probability elizabeth not a part of it- had been doing some sort of sexual rites behind the chapel. some kind of orgy or mazohistic or sadistic sexual affairs. and he regret these things that he had done. -and maybe he is taping those cassettes to prove himself that everybody has some weird sexual occasions, and by that way to relieve himself- and by the way in his normal relationships, he was violent towards elizabeth and because of this fraternity thing he always had to say lies. at this nine years of taping-casettes periods he is trying to alter himself. he is trying to be absolute honest. and becase of the feeling of guilt he became an impotent or deliberately abstain from sex and says he is an impotent. he is trying to be honest but when ann asks him about his past he cannot having the power to tell what had happened at his past. and at last i think ann and graham find themselves a shelter with each other. a reciprocal comprehension by excluding sex from between them. or sex no more a vital thing between them.
-
Radiant_Rose — 17 years ago(August 04, 2008 03:11 AM)
i think graham and his fraternity -with a big probability elizabeth not a part of it- had been doing some sort of sexual rites behind the chapel. some kind of orgy or mazohistic or sadistic sexual affairs. and he regret these things that he had done. -and maybe he is taping those cassettes to prove himself that everybody has some weird sexual occasions, and by that way to relieve himself- and by the way in his normal relationships.
That's an interesting theory. Thank you.
he was violent towards elizabeth
I personally don't think he was, but I think he frightened her.
We cannot catwalk naked! -
RS-NaTa5 — 13 years ago(September 21, 2012 09:04 PM)
i don't use to comment on this forum because i always come here and find some opinions or view of the movie that kinda relate to mine and i feel that i wouldn't contribute
this time i have a different point of view
Graham and John were alike , like a typical Hollywood college boy just want to beep every girl and lie to everyone
Somehow this Elizabeth girl got serious but he couldn't maintain his relationship like john couldn't (probably because betrayal, lying, and some kinda of lack of real interaction/feelings by his side) so he tried to change and got a therapist but it didn't work so he tried to do things by himself , trying to negate all the bad things he was and comeback to his hometown to prove everyone and Elizabeth he changed.
the Greeks thing probably was his and john fraternity and the chapel is where he used to take the girls or some kind of nickname to the places he used to take them.
Guess they are really different now