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Reviews
Secretary (2002)
this secretary pushes all the right keys
Based on the short story from Mary Gaitskill, the film Secretary achieves and attains a certain level of precedent that few films before it have. Perhaps that is why it won the Sundance Special Jury Prize for Originality. Lee Holloway, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal comes home from a stay at a mental institution the day of her sisters (Amy Locane) wedding. Back in the dysfunctional environment of her neurotic mother (Lesley Ann Warren) and alcoholic father (Stephen McHattie) is enough for Lee to go back to her old ways of mutilating herself. Cutting and burning herself allows the inner pain to come to the surface as she watches it heal. This point is brought to light but the wonderful and ever so chilling James Spader who plays her controlling and dominating boss Mr. E. Edward Grey. While the job is a menial one of taking orders and doing crazy things to suffice his desires, it's Lee's pride and joy, she will do anything to keep this job. The catharsis of the film takes place when Edward finds her on a date with her boyfriend Peter (Jeremy Davies). Unbeknownst to her, he starts to fall for Lee. At the same time, he catches her cutting herself. As the two start to play a game of master and servant (he the master, she the servant), she starts to fall under his spell. So much that he will not allow her to hurt herself anymore. He will spank her, he will do whatever but she is not going to be the one to hurt her. Sick, huh? Wait till you get to the scene where he and commits an unmentionable sexual act, only to tell her to go back to work. Is this the quintessential relationship? No! But is it the right relationship for them? Yes. This film teaches us that love is not the same throughout. The fact that relationships vary from person to person. What is right for couple may be completely different for another. .Don't go in to this film expecting to see a John Cusack movie, or a Julia Roberts feel good movie, but for me, this Secretary pushes all the right keys. PS. Owen and Luke Wilson, you've better watch out you've got some competition. Maggie Gyllenhaal proves that she can keep up to par with her brothers boiling hot career