Secretary

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for what it wants to be but could have been better
Review: Let me say at the outset that I disagree with one of the "points" of this film (ie, that the D/s lifestyle is as "normal" as any other), but nevertheless Secretary is an excellent, excellent film that works on several levels. On perhaps the most accessible level, it's quite a great love story and a great coming-of-age story ... it works very well on both levels, and the direction, acting, frankly the entire thing draws the viewer in and does not disappoint. Maggie Gyllenhaal's Lee Holloway is an irresistably quirky character, expertly portrayed, while James Spaeder is nearly perfect as the up-tight control freak that is E. Edward Grey, Esq. Just on this level alone, the film is a great success.

Going one level deeper, the film is also brilliantly succesful in portraying what it is like to be in one of these D/s relationships -- what it looks like from the psychological or psychosexual point of view. The film isn't really about "S&M", in my opinion, because while Lee Holloway starts the film as a masochist (and a self-destructive one), she progresses through the film to find herself in her submission ... she moves beyond her masochism to discover her submission and finds herself there. Spaeder's character displays no real sadism per se, but much dominance and controlling. So what we have here isn't really "S&M" but "D/s". In any case, the film really portrays the mindset of folks who engage in this kind of activity, particularly from the perspective of the submissive partner, as the film is done essentially from the point of view of Lee Holloway. It also very well explains how the submissive partner can nevertheless be a powerful -- perhaps the more powerful -- partner in a D/s relationship.

Where I parted ways with this excellent film was with its conclusion to the effect that this activity is simply another version of "normal". Having lived through relationships like this personally, I couldn't disagree more with this statement. Almost everyone who engages in this activity has "issues" of one kind or other, and it is these issues that create the need, or the perceived need, to engage in this kind of activity. Rather than catering to these perceived needs, and ignoring where they come from, another approach is to focus on the roots of them, and try to understand whether they are authentically a part of the intrinsic person or whether they are simply a reaction to things that have "happened" to the person. In my personal opinion, what would have made the film much better than it already was would have been an exploration of the background of the two main characters, and what elements in that background contributed to their perceived needs to engage in this activity. The film was very much against that approach ... if you listen to the director/writer commentary track, they specifically say that they did not want to give too much detail about Lee Holloway's pre-film life because they dodn't want the viewer to conclude "she's this way because of 'x'", but in my own personal experience this is very much the case, and the fact that the film consciously ignored that was troubling. We do get snippets of a troubled home life for Lee, the alcoholic father and the suicide attempt, and you can start to piece together the need for a father figure, etc., but that's only if you have some experience dealing with people who engage in this activity. If you don't, you're left holding the bag, which is where the directors want you to be. And as for the Spaeder character, there is almost no background at all as to why he feels the need to control (which the film does a great job portraying). An even better love story than Grey and Holloway finding each other through dominance and submission would have been Grey and Holloway progressing through that stage to discover the woundedness of each other that led them to the D/s lifestyle and healing each other beyond that stage through love. But the director and writer would have been vehemently opposed to this, judging from their commentary on the film.

In short, the film is an excellent portrayal of what it is like to be in a D/s relationship, particularly from the "s" point of view. It doesn't, however, go the extra mile and try to explain how people find themselves having these needs, because the film consciously doesn't want to go there, and that is disappointing. Nevertheless, a worthy film on many levels and well worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: so so great!
Review: Lee has been released from a mental institution on the day of her older sister's wedding (one wonders why Amy Locane, who was the lead in the movie Cry Baby, was only given one line in this entire film.) However, Maggie Gyllenhaal is wonderful as Lee, a shy, nervous woman who has been cutting herself since the 7th grade. She decides to get a job as a secretary (she has no work experience and only a certificate from her secretarial school.) In fact, she has so little work/life experience that she does not realize E. Edward Grey, the lawyer who hires her, has asked her all illegal questions at her interview (are you pregnant? do you live in an apartment? are you married?)

Lee quickly becomes a willing submissive to Mr. Grey's dominance, despite having dates with a hirsute goofball who works in sales at JC Penney's. (We never find out what the E. in E. Edward Grey stands for.)

I am a bit disturbed that Lee does not seem to receive any follow-up care for her cutting problem, which institutionalized her in the first place. Especially since she so quickly becomes engrossed in the world of S&M. This is a very strange, and oddly beautiful, love story in the end. It is good to see Lee grow stronger in her convictions as an adult, but how she arrives at those convictions is a bit murky.

Rating:
Summary: Whap!
Review: When I see a film such as Secretary, I can't escape the impression that the filmmakers use their material (in this case, S&M) for the purpose of simply selling the film--in an ongoing race (in Hollywood) to have the most bizarre, most formerly taboo subject on the table--in order that it will be talked about and, ultimately, that it will sell-rather than for the purpose of shedding light on an unmentioned or under appreciated human condition.

It was difficult for this viewer to relate with any of the main characters. To a person they were neurotic. Cutting one's self, for example, is not a healthy thing. And the subject matter was all about sex and little more (anything new these days?).

The Secretary implicitly presents itself as a psychological drama, yet that aspect of the film doesn't quite work. I never came to an understanding of what drove either of the primary characters in their obsessive-compulsive desires. Yes, Lee, the main protagonist, has a troubled family, including an alcoholic father. But that doesn't adequately explain her behaviour. The other main person, E. Edward, has little known background; he's just, well, very obsessive and not all that consistent as a character.

Nonetheless, the Secretary was visually well put together and the acting, especially by Maggie Gyllenhaal, was superb. And if you can't get enough of sex in films, this one is rather titillating-although not in the usual way.

If you really enjoy psychological drama with a sexual undercurrent, the 50's film "Suddenly, Last Summer" covers the ground very well.

Secretary is not recommended for viewing with your grandmother or with pre-adult children.

Rating:
Summary: serious, comic, erotic, and romantic movie!!
Review: This movie is not released in Korea. My friend who lives in the states sent me this DVD title a couple weeks ago.

Secretary is a movie about a woman and man whose lives were not very happy and pleasant and they have lonely souls. They met at work and have a Sadist and Masochist relationship which would be regarded as a very unusual beginning of a romance in a movie.
It's not easy to tell abnormality apart normality talking about love. I don't even think they have a line between them. People generally say voyeurs and sadomasochists are shameful. However, things can be different just depending on the way you are looking at things and this movie seems to suggest that idea to me.
The first thing I come up with this movie article is how intricate subject this movie is dealing with. A boss with sadomasochism? And the secretary would love to enjoy the relationship? This movie has turned a sexual harrassment in a work place into a romance. It should be intricate and dangerous. This film has whole serious, comic, erotic, and romantic aspects.
I am not going to judge this movie rashly because of the S&M relationship. I will watch in an open-minded way and see if there is something I can learn about people and their relations which I didn't know before. I know there are always good chances to meet a good movie with this kind of attitude.

Rating:
Summary: How screenplays should be written, and movies made...
Review: Absolutely and utterly brilliant. Period.

Rating:
Summary: Secretary
Review: This movie appeals to a very specific type of person, and you know who you are.
5 Stars

Rating:
Summary: What a surprise...I loved it!
Review: Secretary is captivating from start to finish. I must admit I heard rumors about how it was just about S&M and how strange it was. But my curiosity got the best of me so I decided to see for myself what all the hype was about and let me just say I was glad I did. This movie was brilliant!
The character of Maggie was so richly portrayed as was the Mr. Grey character. In the beginning you sympathize with Maggie but as the movie continues you become enlightened to see the strong but submissively confident person she becomes. She starts off doing what other people want her to do (like dating the nice but completely wrong guy!)but through Edward she realizes who she wants to be. It is a completely genuine love story about two lonely troubled people whose common bond blossoms into true love. Do not watch this film unless you are going to have an open mind. I think it is possibly one of the best films of the year!

Rating:
Summary: Finally a romance that breaks the mold
Review: It really has been awhile since a smart, sly, and extremely sexy romance has come along. It's not the S & M side of this movie that makes it refreshing (although it is personally something new to me). It's the way the subject is handled with taste and style. Maggie Gyllenhaal in one of her first starring roles, gives a startling and real performance as Lee, a troubled woman just out of the mental institution. To help steer herself towards sanity again, she takes a job as a secretary with lawyer E. Edward Gray (James Spader, who although is playing a character similar to the one in 's,l,&v', plays his role wonderfully). At first the work is pretty typical but then he begins reprimanding her for typing errors and the like. It starts out mild but it soon escalates to spankings. And Lee likes it. Her relationship with Gray awakens her and she becomes a new and stronger person. But there's trouble in paradise when Gray begins to feel disgusted with himself. There's more but that will remain undisclosed. I'll start off by saying this film is definately not for everyone. But those who venture into the territory will find something in this movie to latch onto. Despite the fact that the cover and opening music scream 'soft core porn', this is a die-hard romance in disguise. So those who are willing to take the plunge, I say, dive right in. You will be, ahem, satisfied.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly charming and funny
Review: Don't let the subject matter scare you, folks! This is a beautiful movie.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is absolutely adorable and incredibly sexy as Lee Holloway, a young woman who is a cutter - someone who cuts herself to avoid inner pain, to feel she is alive, to take comfort in the pain itself and the healing. She has recently been released from a mental institution for attempted suicide, and is placed into the care of her amazingly dysfunctional family. She begins cutting herself again, until her new boss, E. Edward Grey (James Spader,) slowly brings her into a dominant/submissive relationship. Spader plays Grey perfectly, portraying some of the most genuine inner conflict I have ever seen on-screen. His intensity is unparalleled.

That's the short story right there, but until you see this film, you won't realie the intensity (there's that word again) of each character's awkwardness with her- or himself, won't release how necessary their relationship is to each of them, and how they come to feel about each other. The story is surprisingly funny and light-hearted both subtly and overtly in places, utterly charming in others, sad in several, and heart-warming overall. The direction is superb, the colors and sets are absolutely gorgeous and rich in color....everything about this film is stunning. It is not shocking, it is not pornographic, but it is sensual and sexual.

Lee's transformation is, of course, the focal point of the film, but there are other layers to appreciate and savor as well. This is an enjoyable ride that allows those unfamiliar with aspects of BDSM to see a tiny glimpse of two peoples' version of it, but it's also more than that. The "more than that" is really difficult to describe, I'm sorry. But it's a beautiful, tender love story, and I highly recommend it - I'll definitely watch it again.

The DVD's extra features are somewhat lacking, sadly, but the "Behind the Secretary" bit is fun. Despite the stereotypically dark subject matter, as the "behind" bit states, she is actually travelling a journey from darkness into light - and that's absolutely it. Mr. Grey's office is a sanctuary where orchids grow, and where Lee begins to grow and blossom, too. The long shots down the hallway to his office underline the journey, and are beautiful unto themselves. It's simply a great, great story! Charming! Beautiful! Lovely! Stunning! Almost perfect! [grin]

Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Surprise
Review: I had heard of this movie last year, but it wasn't brought to any of our local movie theaters. Then, it came out on dvd and I still hadn't rented it (even though I'm a huge James Spader fan.) After a friend recommended it to me, it still took me a month to go out and rent it.
I didn't think I would like it too much, but still, James Spader lulled in my three bucks. When it was over, I was amazed. I loved this movie. It's an odd love story that just pulls the viewer in. I found it interesting that in the beginning we see Lee as a frumpy, unpolished girl who evolves into a woman in front of our eyes with the help of Mr. Grey. The formula ends with the tables turning in a sense with Lee being the dominant one in the relationship (at least I interpreted it that way.) There were moments I was laughing my butt off (four peas, a small portion of mashed, no, cream potatoes, and all the ice cream one could want) and there were moments I was in shock (bathroom, typo letter, and the lady in the next stall).
I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants a different kind of love story. James Spader did an excellent job (still can't forgive him for some of movies he's done in recent years) and Maggie Gyllenhaal was delightfully charming.