Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: Exciting, sexy, naughty, the acting was superb!! I would recommend this movie to any adult who is uninhibited.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie was trying too hard.
Review: I can see how some people would be impressed by this movie, but I wasn't. It moved way too slow for me and I grew annoyed instead of intrigued by the characters. There were just way too many gimmicks for me to sit through! While the rest of the theater laughed at the pathetic title character's antics, I looked at my watch. I walked out of the theater soon after watching the scene where Lee and her boyfriend was having dinner at a resturaunt that looked like an adolecent girl's jewelry store. James Spader deserves better than this.
Rating: 
Summary: Hey, now.....
Review: Heard the buzz about this one weeks ago (LOVE the promotional poster). The theatre in NYC was 90% full, 2 or 3 people left in the middle of it, but not me. I like to watch the envelope get pushed.The film seems to be an essay on "psychologically broken" people
finding each other and muddling thru "normal life." Practically
everyone on screen has had some form of emotional crippling which
keeps them isolated from everyday society. But this is far from a
"downer," because amidst the angst, there are subtle laughs -- the strange behavior can make you chuckle at the oddest situations... I hate to give away too much plot, but if you enjoy movies that keep you thinking while it plays with your emotions AND challenges your ideas of acceptable behavior, give it a shot. The acting is fascinating, with the female lead (Maggie Gyllenhaal) giving off sparks of extreme courage -- not many women would have taken on a role like this. I loved Cronenberg's "Crash" because it was a psychological spinning wheel:you could never clearly predict what anyone was doing or thinking. This runs along the same lines. Did I like it? I was in its spell, following it wherever it went,
and most importantly, I was never bored (a lot like "Mullholland
Drive")--so yeah, I liked it. Would I see it again & again? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Only to the adventurous -- most regular moviegoers would find this perverse/silly/pointless
or just plain "bad." (Believe me, it is none of those) Throughout the film, I kept thinking "I can't believe a movie like this came out of Hollywood !" It's someone's dark little secret fantasy put up on a big screen for all to see, and the girl's final close-up may sum up the filmaker's message in a nutshell. "Yeah, and what are YOU looking at....?"
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: Maggie Gllenhaal is excellent. James Spader is convincing. Everyone over 18 must see this film
Rating:
Summary: Not sure whether to love this movie or be disgusted by it...
Review: As a feminist, the themes presented in this film were not my cup of tea...so I feel kind of awkward and embarrassed saying that I love "Secretary." I won't go into detail about plot and such, because it has all been said in previous reviews, but I will share some of my personal opinions. This movie was very disturbing, but the two leading players were fascinating to watch. I am a huge fan of James Spader, and he just shines in these kind of "twisted" roles. And Maggie was absolutely fantastic as well! She is obviously a very talented actress with a lot of guts. Throughout this movie, it was strange to see how a mentally ill woman can find confidance through being submissive to an equally disturbed boss. I would have given this movie 5 stars if it had gone into a little more detail about Mr. Grey's past and why he behaves the way he does. It didn't provide enough information about his character's previous exploits. Another thing about this film that makes it unique is the way it was able to be flat-out sexy without a lot of actual sex. The tensions between the two characters were so complex and I was always wondering what they would be feeling (and doing!) next. And you just gotta love those red Sharpies! Overall, this was a great film and it was interesting to see a different kind of love lifestyle (although it is one that I would never pursue myself)! I am not quite sure how to feel about the ending, but the rest of the film was great. Was it disgusting? Yes. Weird? Yes. But for whatever strange reason...I just absolutely love this movie!
Rating:
Summary: Puppydog S&M
Review: Secretary goes about solving the problem of "finding the right one" in quite a humerous and riske manner. S&M! Now before you jump to conclussions, you are not going to be barraged with images Betty Page look-a-likes and more torture devices than you can shake a stick at, don't worry. I can see how this film got its R rating, but it still goes about presenting this material it in a almost tame manner. It shows how two people with different, yet equally debilitating shy demeanors, can through extreme socially taboo means, discover that they are soulmates. I say that this movie is a must see for those who have a taste for the bizare, along with happy endings.
Rating:
Summary: Offbeat. Quirky. Weird. But a turn on.
Review: OK, they say you should never judge a book by its cover, but the only reason I bought this movie was because of the cover. It's one of the funkiest covers I've seen recently, and it aroused my curiosity, as to what the film was actually about. So I bought it, along with Notting Hill.
Although I did originally want to watch Tears of the Sun, it was too long, and it was already quite late at night. So I chose this instead. There was a severe lack of extras on this DVD that I bought, just a couple of trailers, and one particularly for House of 1000 Corpses (ugh!). I doubt I would have paid full price for the DVD with extras though. Although it would have been good to see what Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader said about the film.
I'd previously only seen Maggie Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko (alongside her real life gorgeous brother, Jake) & Mona Lisa Smile, so wasn't sure what to expect from her in the main role, although she certainly shone in Mona Lisa Smile. However, she's an excellent, versatile actress. I wasn't as keen on James Spader though, I think someone sort of sexier looking, or more evil looking could have done the part a lot better. For some reason I have Jack Nicholson's face in my head now, which isn't pretty, so lets try Christian Slater instead! I suppose James Spader played the slightly nerdy type OK, but I still think someone better could have filled his shoes. Plus, he's not a "hottie" as other reviewers have described. Maybe it's just me, but I like a bit of rough! Not Jack Nicholson though - bleurgh. (Now Gwyneth Paltrow was going to play Lee Holloway - that wouldn't have been good at all!!!)
This film wasn't subtle in any way, by portrayed some of the stuff it did, which would have people avoiding the movie altogether, and censors running for their 'red pens'. The relationship between Lee & Edward (or if you prefer, Mr Gray or Sir) is definitely a strange one, but fascinating at the same time, as he blows hot & cold with her. One minute he wants her, the next he doesn't. I love the way he watched her too, when he thought she wasn't looking, and the way he kept that one red pen. I loved the way she desperately tried to get his attention, including sending him a worm in the mail - I'm not sure I got that. The S&M scenes are kept relatively tame in tone and the film displays a wickedly funny sense of humour for most of its duration. I'm not sure I would go as far as the heavy handed spanking myself doesn't really do it for me, but I applaud the makeup artists, for the fantastic job on the bruising on Maggie's behind.
The differences between the two scenes, the first one with Lee & the boyfriend she gets lumped with, and then Mr Gray, are huge. It's obvious she doesn't want to be with Peter, and he's boring in bed. And makes the strangest noises!!!
I'm not sure I would call this a love story. The finale, although upbeat, was a bit out of touch with the rest of the movie. The relationship is moving (very moving, in fact). But, because of the nature of the relationship, there are some very funny scenes, like Lee masturbating, while repeating the dinner instructions Spader gave her earlier in the evening (four peas, a half-scoop of mash, and as much ice cream as she can eat). I found the similar James Spader scene quite strange. Her eyes though when he first spanks her, she has got really expressive eyes, next to Neve Campbell.
With quite a few relationships/flings starting in the office, this gives the movie its shock value.
I'm not sure about the nudity towards the end though. It was completely unnecessary for the movie. I didn't particularly need to see Maggie full frontal (which you will get guys), and she looks like she needs a good feeding! Although I was wishing I had a stomach like hers, not if I need to starve myself to get it.
It would have been interesting to see the extras to on this, just to see whether James or Maggie mentioned that they needed a few stiff ones (DRINKS!) to do some scenes. On the "extras" version of this DVD, the extras include a commentary by director Steven Shainberg and the writers; a featurette and a photo gallery.
The song that plays over Mr. Gray and Lee at the end of the movie is "Chariots Rise" by Lizzie West. The original lyric is "What a fool am I, to fall so in love," but the director did not want to imply that Lee was being foolish, and asked if it could be altered. Because she wanted the song to be in the movie, Lizzie West re-recorded the line as "What grace have I, to fall so in love."
I would definitely recommend this movie, although not for the easily embarrassed (which I would have normally said I was), or young innocents out there. You need to view this movie with an open mind.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't understand this movie....
Review: This story of opposites attract was as confusing a movie as I ever seen. How they meet and are supposed to fall in love makes no sense. I suspose there was a point to it, but neither the script nor the cast have any clue on how to deliver it.
Rating:
Summary: Pro-sex feminism has three cheers for this stunning film
Review: The personal and political comes together in a mesh of beauty, tenderness, honesty and desire in this stunner of a film. Honest love stories, honest stories about anything, are rare hollywood product and this story pulls no punches. Yet, while the basis of the relationship of the two main characters, played by Spader and Gyllenhal, is a half reluctant half exuberant pull towards s/m/b/d, that is not the whole of their relationship. And while their enjoyment and pleasure in these ritualistic, gorgeously shot activities is genuine and intense, they are still a kind of metaphor for the deeper meaning these two characters find in each others company, for the understanding that they engender in each other. THis is not a story about sadomashochism-rather it's a story about a dominant and a submissive who happen to fit each other in almost every other way as well.
And the pro-sex feminist in me thrills at a piece of fiction treating sex and sexuality as a way to empower a woman rather than demean or degrade her. The main theme of Lee's life pre-Mr. Grey is one of being pushed around the emotions she's too sensitive to fully absorb and family members too absorbed to help her. At the beginning of the movie, she is a kind of victim, not of her self-mutilation but of the emotional abuse that is at the root of her self-mutilation. But her relationship with Mr. Grey, even though it's abstract and unusual, allows her to claim her emotions, to choose her life and it's partner without regard to anyone else's emotions or opinions. When Lee tells poor peter close to the end of the movie, "I don't want you" she is actually saying, "I want all of these other things and I will have them" This is a giant step for Lee and one that the viewer feels she would've never made without a few cups of hot chocolate and a few well placed spankings. Mr Grey has manpiulated Lee in the context of their dominant/submissive relationship, but her ability to own these moments between them have given her immeasurable confidence and joy. (and yes, we kind of feel sorry for peter, but mostly because he hasn't found anything akin to Lee's strength in the post break-down world)
When Lee places the certain object on the end of bed near the closing moments of the movie, it is a symbol of the permanance, the indestructible quality of their love. And in the actual closing moment, when Lee faces the camera and her gaze emits such power and grace and happiness she is daring anyone to tell her that she's wrong while also insinuating that such judgements are meaningless to her. She is claming her own version of satisfaction and there is nothing more feminist than that. ;)
Rating:
Summary: I can't believe the reviews here...
Review: Are you guys friends of the director or something?
I'm sorry but this is truly one of the most unpleasant and disturbing movies I have ever watched. I wish I could erase the memories of this movie from my mind, it was that bad. Whenever I think of bad movies, this is the first movie that comes to mind. It's sick, sadistic, about suicide, torture.. Words can't even begin to describe how disturbing and uncomfortable this film was. This is definitely not meant to be a feel good movie. One does not end up caring about any of the characters, because they're all so sick and twisted. I'm deviating from all the reviewers here, but believe me, you'll thank me later.
|
