Secretary DVD Review

"SECRETARY" reviews

DVD

SECRETARY

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-26 11:18:14

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Films about sexual practices which are considered a bit leftfield tend to attract a certain amount of controversy. One only has to look at David Cronenberg's Crash or Gaspar Noe's Irreversible to see that. So why is it that director Steven Shainberg's look at the submissive and dominant partners in an S&M relationship hasn't prompted outraged letters from 'Disgusted of Sevenoaks'? Well because it's not gratuitous or graphic and it all fits.

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has just been released from an institution after her self-harming became a very real problem. In an attempt to get her life back on track (and away from her father's constant boozing) she decides to seek a job to fill her time. Meanwhile, E. Edward Grey (James Spader) is a stern lawyer whose demands for perfectionism sees him going through secretaries like Bruce Willis goes through bullets in a Die Hard sequel. When Lee turns up in his office, Grey recognises something about Lee's mindset. What follows is the development of a working relationship that suits and satisfies the couple. A relationship that's unique (using tender in the broadest possible sense) and a match , maybe not made in heaven, but certainly equally 'rewarding' for them both. We're being obtuse maybe, but this is an extremely finely balanced story. Spanking bondage and domination are normally kept out of the office, not here.

The acts themselves aren't the focus of Shainberg's film - the situation between Lee and Grey is. While Lee is happy in her submissive role, as it means someone is paying attention to her - not something she can find at home. Grey, though troubled by his part in all this perhaps wishes he could stop it. He does at one point but, like any addict, he's soon back to his old ways. For selfish reasons or for love? Possibly both.

While many films of this nature would play for shocks, Shainberg's biggest coup is that he plays much of it more for laughs - sometimes ambiguous ones - allowing the audience moments of light relief from the occasionally naughtily activities on screen which may have you shuffling in your seat from time to time. This is no Carry On. Performance-wise this is the film that should do for Maggie Gyllenhaal what Donnie Darko did for her brother, Jake. She shines brilliantly in a role many would shy away from. Spader brings another distinct performance to the screen and perhaps this is the closest character to his breakthrough-role, in Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies & Videotape.

Copyright © MRIB 2005.