1. Graham Dalton - sex, lies, & videotape (1989)
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. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPEAAjsiQ0A 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...