Product Description

One of a hand-picked selection of some of the most popular and cult-worthy titles on Faber and Faber's extensive list of film scripts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #746809 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 103 pages

Customer Reviews

Now See The Butterfly
A caterpillar has become a beautiful butterfly.

This book is Steven Soderbergh's script for "sex, lies and videotape". Metaphorically, it is a rather lumpy caterpillar. The finished film of "sex, lies and videotape", directed by Soderbergh, is the more delicate and beautiful butterfly.

At the end of the book, Soderbergh even gives us a few tantalising glimpses into the cocoon, in the form of photographs taken during filming to which he has added rather enigmatic captions. I particularly like the one where he is allegedly trying to massage Andie MacDowell's foot, and also the caption about the UFO.

Soderbergh includes a photo that is supposedly people's reaction to his stripping in the hope of persuading his cast to do likewise: it has been rumoured that a distributor wanted more nudity but his leading ladies refused. However, there is no explanation of his decision to be so coy in depicting actual sex scenes.

I find it intriguing that Soderbergh had decided by the time of writing the script what car his hero would drive ('69 Cutlass), but remained so vague about his hair and clothing (merely described as "punk/arty"). Maybe he was waiting until the role was cast.

Almost all the differences between this script and the finished film are improvements. I am relieved that the "moonwalking" part of the script didn't make it to the screen. I was sad that the "naked unicycling" line was deleted, although it had to go. It would have come across as ridiculous and unbelievable.

The biggest change is in the role of Cynthia. In the script, she comes across as clingy: unwilling to accept the limits of her interaction with Graham, very jealous of Ann and even unable to deal graciously with the barfly at work. We are told little of what makes her tick apart from her obsession with sex. In the film, she is much more confident, although undoubtedly still envious of her supposedly more attractive sister. Soderbergh also inserted another reference to her love of plants and added her passion for painting.

I am really glad about changes made to the climactic scene (number 51). I prefer the film version. In the script book, Graham tells Ann at the start whether he would perform a particular sexual act on her. In the film, we are kept guessing. It is unclear whether he is attracted to her or merely intrigued by her until she has started her attempt to seduce him.

The finished film is, in general, more tantalisingly oblique, with its reference to whether Graham (who claims to be impotent) is capable of giving a woman an orgasm.

The script book alone cannot capture the sexual chemistry of the film itself: please watch it if you haven't already seen it.