The film that turned him into an unconventional sex symbol, the Palm D'Or-winning sex, lies, and videotape was Spaders first cinematic foray into the realm of sexual dysfunction and, by impact, the most important. A parable on modern-day voyeurism and disconnectedness, the films success - $25 million box office on a $1 million budget - helped to push film studio Miramax into the big leagues and, by extension, to kick-start the whole independent film movement: without it thered likely be no Pulp Fiction, no Crying Game, no Good Will Hunting. Much of this depends on the strength of Spaders performance and it is compelling.His character, Graham Dalton*, convinces women to reveal their sexual fantasies on camera in order to compensate for his own impotence. Under other circumstances, Graham would seem like a simple creep, but Spaders ingenuousness, his candidness, make him almost likeable, especially when compared to Peter Gallaghers adulterous sleaze. In a world of sex and lies - and taking advantage, which Graham, crucially, doesn't - the videotaping sees like a lesser sin. *Dalton, Swinton - there seems to be some sort of pattern going on here...