Scene Secretary
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Scene Secretary
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A good old fashioned love story with a little bondage thrown in, Secretary is tender and funny. Few romantic comedies are as deep.
Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader put in great performances and have great chemistry.
Well written story that is unique, humorous, and endearing without ever being corny.
Great direction that is more about the subtleties.
There is little background given and almost no development to supporting characters.
Movie history is filled with timeless couples that are instantly recognized by their first names.
Movie history is filled with timeless couples that are instantly recognized by their first names. Rose and Jack. Allie and Noah. Lady and the Tramp. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, some couples are planning on a perfect date movie. Fifty Shades Freed will likely have one last moment of relevancy before Black Panther is released nationwide on February 16th. However, before the Fifty Shades series inexplicably went on to make millions of dollars, there was 2002’s Secretary .
Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal in a breakout role as Lee Holloway and James Spader as E. Edward Grey (sound familiar?), Secretary is a romantic comedy with its own take on the “girl meets boy, girl loses boy, will girl and boy reconcile?” formula. Lee has just been released from a mental hospital after a near fatal self-injury and wants to live a normal life. Mr. Grey is a mysterious lawyer who hires Lee as his secretary. Lee and Mr. Grey form a sexually charged relationship that is centered around BDSM, but is just as much about self-discovery. ( Now does it sound familiar?)
In order for any romance movie to work the two leads need to have strong chemistry. Gyllenhaal and Spader have an obvious strong connection from their first interaction. The two play off each other beautifully in a variety of situations — it’s almost as if the roles were written specifically for the two. This natural chemistry along with its unique and compelling story engage the audience. Secretary is about two flawed characters who are doing what they can to live normal lives. It quickly becomes clear that they are unable to do it alone. It is impossible to not become invested as the two become closer while at the same time pushing each other away. It’s a strange relationship that’s odd and funny, but Gyllenhaal and Spader never make it seem ridiculous.
Gyllenhaal and Spader turn in strong performances. Gyllenhaal portrays Lee as innocent and almost naive. Lee also suffers from low self-esteem, yet there is also a tenderness and understanding to her. Lee does not just love Mr. Grey, she also wants to help him. Gyllenhaal brings pathos to the character that endears Lee to the audience. Spader’s performance is equally impressive. Simple facials and speaking patterns make it obvious that Mr. Grey is not a dominant and abusive boss. It quickly becomes apparent that Mr. Grey simply does not know how to interact with people. When he says he’s shy despite being a lawyer, it’s clearly not a lie to seduce Lee. When he essentially commands Lee to stop hurting herself, he is not just doing so because he is a controlling person, but because he cares. Spader does a great job of creating a deep character.
Secretary also tells a great story. On the surface, it sounds simple, but this is more than just another love story about two socially awkward people finding each other. Lee has serious problems and is a danger to herself. Mr. Grey cannot function normally in mixed society. The form a deep love that is born out of a literal need for each other. However, it is not about the need for completion, but instead the need for survival. The story is also sexually charged without being overly sexual. The movie features surprisingly little nudity despite its subject matter; instead, the movie uses a knowing glance or a lingering touch between a pinkie and a thumb. It’s sexy and subtle at the same time. The story is powerful and familiar without being overbearing or boring.
Secretary sounds routine and looks distasteful. Instead, it tells a different type of love story in a touching way. The movie is filled with sexual tension, yet sex is almost treated with disdain. Secretary is ultimately about finding love and bettering yourself without losing who you truly are. This is a great film for Valentine’s — or any other — Day.
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The spanking scene from the movie Secretary has been named the Sexiest Moment on Film by a new survey.
DVD company Lovefilm conducted the poll, which gave the top honor to the scene in the movie where Lee, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal , is spanked by her boss, played by James Spader .
Gyllenhaal narrowly managed to beat her brother Jake , who claimed number two spot for his kiss with co-star Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain .
Other sexy scenes grabbing the top spots include George Clooney locking Jennifer Lopez in a trunk in Out of Sight and Beatrice Dalle ‘s first scene in the 1986 French classic Betty Blue .
The remaining films making the list are:
5. Cruel Intentions – A lesbian kiss between Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar ‘s characters.
6. Wild Things – A car-washing scene with Neve Campbell and Denise Richards .
7. Rear Window – JB Jeffries awakened by a kiss from his girlfriend, played by Grace Kelly .
8. The Fabulous Baker Boys – Susie, played by Michelle Pfeiffer , singing Makin’ Whoopee while writhing on a piano.
9. Mulholland Drive – Betty, played by Naomi Watts , and a mysterious brunette, played by Laura Harring , sharing a bed.
10. The Hunger – A vampire seduction scene featuring Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon .
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Erin Cressida Wilson (screenplay) (story adaptation) Mary Gaitskill (short story) Steven Shainberg (story adaptation)
In a 2018 interview Maggie Gyllenhaal called her role in Secretary "the first time that I was given a role where I could express something about myself," describing taking the role of Lee as an opportunity to "explore something that's on the edge of what I know about myself but with the protection of fiction." She also gave director Steven Shainberg a lot of credit for his collaborative approach, describing him as "interested in me as an artist, was interested in what I was offering, and the way that shifted the story, as opposed to whatever he had imagined before I got there."
Lee is bent over his desk and Mr Grey instructs her to pull down her pantyhose and underwear. When viewed in profile we see the edge of a bodysuit across her thigh. It's unlikely to be a tan line because she was completely covered (hiding her scars) while her girlfriends were in bikinis.
The legal disclaimer has typing errors:
"fictitious" is misspelled "ficticious" "unintentional" is misspelled "unitentional" unauthorized use of the film is warned as resulting in "civil liberty" instead of "civil liability"
Whatchamacallit Performed by Juan García Esquivel (as Esquivel) Written by Juan García Esquivel (as Juan Garcia Esquivel) Courtesy of The RCA Records Label, a unit of BMG Entertainment Under license from BMG Special Products
The most original romantic comedy I've seen in YEARS! Highly recommended.
I may be a jaded old cynic but from time to time a contemporary movie knocks me off my seat. Recently there's been quite a few -'May', 'Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance' and 'Auto Focus' immediately spring to mind. 'Secretary' is another recent gem. This is the most original romantic comedy (very black, mind you) I've seen in YEARS! And for something which deals with a lifestyle alien to me (dominance and submission) it's surprisingly touching, and even managed to get me to shed a tear or two. I had previously enjoyed Maggie Gyllenhaal's supporting roles in 'Donnie Darko' and John Waters' 'Cecil B. Demented' (she played Raven, the make up artist - "Pain is pleasure! Slavery is freedom! Suicide for Satan!' remember?), but her performance here is first class and is guaranteed to turn her into a major cult figure if not an actual genuine STAR. I confess that I now have a major crush on her to boot (I'm sure I'm not alone!). James Spader is also very, very good. While I admired him appearing in Cronenberg's 'Crash' a few years ago most of his other film choices have been safe ones and to be honest I'd pretty much given up on him as an actor. But it just goes to show what an actor is capable of with an innovative script and a supportive director. It's really difficult imagining any other two actors playing these roles any better. In the supporting cast Jeremy Davies also surprised me. I'd been getting a bit tired of his crazy shtick in previous roles, especially his extremely irritating performance in 'The Million Dollar Hotel', but he did a much more subtle job in this movie, and it really worked for me. This is my first experience with director Steven Shainberg but I was impressed. I now want to try and see his previous movie, the Jim Thompson adaptation 'Hit Me'. I also look forward to his next movie, because if 'Secretary' is any indication of his talent then he's sure to come up with something very special. Highly recommend.
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A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one. A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one. A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.
[Mr. Grey asks Lee why she cuts herself]
E. Edward Grey : Why do you cut yourself, Lee?
E. Edward Grey : Is it that sometimes the pain inside has to come to the surface and when you see evidence of the pain inside, you finally know you're really here? Then, when you watch the wound heal, it's comforting. Isn't it?
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