Secretary
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Movie Reviews of Secretary
Movie Review: Totally Believable, HOT Film..
Summary: 5 Stars
In the movie, Maggie Gyllenhaal, is a self inflicted cutter.. Her father isan alcoholic. It doesn't take a whole lot to put two and two together as to
why she cuts herself.. At least it didn't to me. There is a whole lot of
differing opinions on why anyone does the SM lifestyle, but the main consensus
usually ends up that most were raised in some type of dysfunctional
home.
Maggie needed to feel that she was "really alive"..she felt virtually
ignored growing up in an alcoholic home, because licquor was the fuel for
her father, enabling him to do it was her Mom's fuel.. leaving Maggie to
flounder in such dysfunction. So to compensate for that, she cuts herself
to watch herself bleed. It did give her a small moment of clarity, of
"realness".. Yet, they locked her up in a mental institution for this. She
had no confidence, no esteem.. nothing.. until she gets that job.. and once
Spader takes on the sadist role, and gives her another outlet for feeling "really alive", she likes it.. :) She wants it to continue forever. :)
He tells her what to eat, how to dress, how to do her job, all of that..uses her for his own pleasure, and disciplines her when she screws up..What's not to like? :O)))
Mainly Spader pays lots of attention to her, making her feel needed and important. Something she has dreamt of for her lifetime, but never received.
Seriously.. The only thing that disturbed me a
bit was Spader's reaction to his doing that. It seemed like he thought himself dirty or cheap for liking to spank women, for the sadistic pleasures..
A movie like this is So hot to watch, especially when you switch.. :) You
can really relate to both sides of it, and feel each person's character
pretty deeply. and to think.. the script was written by a North Carolina
Bible Belt Girl.. :) What do you know?
This film is definitely worth watching, and buying.. If you are remotely interested in the kink.. Even if you are just wanting a titillating film to watch occasionally.. it is worth the purchase price.. Great film! Realistic to some degree. :)
Bout time, is all I can say
Movie Review: Can't stop watching this unique, superb film
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently resubscribed to HBO in order to watch "Angels in America" (first-rate, incidentally) and stumbled across SECRETARY. I had never heard of the film, knew nothing about it - which is so rare and wonderful these days to be able to completely form one's own opinion about a film. First off, I have now watched the film, or most of it, at least three times over the last week or so (for once, I'm happy with all the repetition on a movie channel). I just can't resist each time I see it listed on HBO's schedule.
I know the main reason: Maggie Gyllenhaal. I had never heard of her either, and her acting in this film - even her mere presence on the screen - is magnetic, electrifying, multi-dimensional, honest, sexy, smart . . . I may not have heard of her before but I'll be watching whatever else she does from now on!
Secondly, James Spader, Gyllenhaal's costar, is well cast as her boss, in a role in my opinion played perfectly: perfectly understated, perfectly reserved, perfectly sexy . . . in fact I have now added James Spader to my list of most sexy men in films today.
If you want a debate about S&M, read some of the other reviews.
The two important things I believe you need to consider in order to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this film are:
(1)Appreciate the comedy! If you can't see the wit and comedy in this film, and appreciate the genius comedic moments of both Gyllenhaal and Spader, (as well as other supporting players) you are missing the point; and
(2) Don't take the S&M so seriously, but understand that the film supports the reason for it, builds the justification for it logically and intelligently from the start, and successfully transitions the characters based on the S&M relationship to a fitting resolution.
As stated above, can't stop watching, or thinking about, this unique, superb film.
And I bet you 10 bucks it will excite most women like me - who despise hard-core porn and find soft-core porn just silly - but will find the sexuality in this film (both mainstream and otherwise) a steamy, sensual, turn-on.
Movie Review: WEIRD CAN BE FUN
Summary: 5 Stars
The title misled me into expecting a cheesy pseudo-comedy about the tired subject of female exploitation in work places. Then, a bit of reading pointed towards a plot based on maverick overtones of S&M (disclaimer: not really my bag), which had me expecting a psychosexual serving of "Working Girl" (that Griffith humdinger from the 80s) with bondage thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised to be proved mostly wrong on both accounts.
As for the hackeneyed theme of female exploitation, the protagonist's initial willingness to acquiesce to her boss' punitive ministerings could have easily made her a victim of an employer/a man/a senior. Instead, this is quite convincingly shown to be her mode of entry into adulthood, allowing her to develop the inner resources to be a self-determined woman relentless in the pursuit of what and whom she wants.
As for bondage, the depictions are not really bad at all (albeit occasionally guilty of needless nudity, imho) and in fact for better or for worse challenge our pre-conceived notions of sex. Anyone involved in a relationship knows that an essential ingredient is variable power balance -- it's inevitable, despite some people's claims that they have a completely equal affiliation. These power shifts help keep romance vibrant, most likely resulting in wisdom and self-acceptance. What men often confuse as strength -- stoicism, aloofness, obstinacy -- are, more often than not actually weaknesses leading to ignorance, avoidance and ultimate demise. Paradoxically, it's in hapless vulnerability that we actually discover what we're capable of, being able to develop emotional resilience and learning to express desire, sexual or otherwise. Gylenhaal's Lee Holloway embodies this weakness-as-power concept to the T, making an appealing case for growth by any means necessary.
In a nutshell, a delicious, fast-paced, wonderfully filmed, off-beat romantic "comedy". Not something I'd necessarily go out on a limb to buy or own, but definitely worth an enjoyable evening's rental. Twice.
Movie Review: One of the best movies of the year
Summary: 5 Stars
If you come to Secretary expecting a raunchy comedy full of short skirts and spanking, then you'll be disappointed. If, however, you're a fan of offbeat movies with wonderfully drawn characters then this is definitely worth a look. The story has sado-masochist, withdrawn Lee (Gyllenhaal) take up a job as secretary at the offices of Edward Grey (Spader), a bullying depressive lawyer. As the relationship grows in intensity, spanking included, both Lee and Grey wonder how they can unite their inner turmoil to the way the other makes them feel.The acting is brilliant. Gyllenhall really proves that she has what it takes to be an actress of her generation, easily overtaking other talented competition from Kirsten Dunst and Reese Witherspoon. Clearly a beautiful young woman she manages to hold herself in such a way as to make her appear the most dumpy, boring, painfully shy girl you'd ever come across. Sister to Donnie Darko star Jake, she clearly proves herself just as worthy of acclaim as her sibling. Spader takes a pretty similar role to that he had in Crash a few years ago, though here he adds in a kind of profound depression into his bullying ways and really sparkles with his co-star.
When reviews say this isn't a movie for everyone, that's true. A lot of people like their love stories straightforward, and this is anything but. Laced with dry humour Secretary traces one of the year's most delicate, beautiful relationships as Lee and Grey find in each other exactly what they'd never realised they'd needed their whole lives. The ending will leave you with exactly the right amount of hope for love in a world where only loneliness and self harm seem to be the answer for its characters. Imaginative, different and compelling.
Movie Review: A twisted love story
Summary: 5 Stars
Looking at the box, you think it's soft porn. Watch the first few minutes, and you think it's a thriller. After 45 minutes or so, you think you're watching some French psychosexual drama. Then the end of the movie comes, and you find out you've been watching a really good chick flick! Underneath the spicy perversion is a straight-up made-for-each-other love story, and a really good one. The heart of this movie is a truly incredible performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal, whose shy, crooked smiles come off like a deeply repressed Meg Ryan. She is absolutely stunning in this role. The script and directing are merely okay, but she carves a perfect shining jewel of a performance out of a solid rock of material. Her mere presence in any future films will make me take notice! If she starts getting heavier roles, she could turn into another Meryl Streep - her performance reminded me in many ways of Sophie's Choice, despite the much milder source material.
James Spader performs his typecast repressed pervert role (Sex Lies and Videotape, Crash) with his normal mumbling flair. It's not that he's a bad actor, it's just that Maggie Gyllenhaal is so much better. He does his part to move the film along and provide the appropriate friction for her to form a character against. Jeremy Davies and Lesley Ann Warren do well as representatives of the life Lee needs to escape.
Anyway... if you want a good, dopey love story and aren't afraid of a LOT of kink, and want to see an up-and-coming actress before she starts getting Oscars (she absolutely deserved an Oscar nomination for this role), watch it. But if the idea that sadomasochism can be a form of love for the repressed offends you or freaks you out, go rent something with Meg Ryan instead.