(2002) 4 Sarah Sloboda Maggie Gyllenhaal's first starring role provides her with the opportunity to explore a rather demanding character, which she performs with depth and humor in Secretary. As Lee Holloway, she portrays a young woman with a strange addiction to pain, but remains engaging and easily empathized with. Lee's endeavors in the "real" world, after a youth with an emotionally disruptive family life, prove to be a bizarre representation of one's willingness to comply, in order to fulfill one's desires. By taking a secretarial job with E. Edward Grey (James Spader), she learns that taking orders is not only within her capacity as an employee, but in fact, serves a higher purpose for the whole of her person. Gyllenhaal makes magic as Lee, with a blatantly erotic upward gaze somehow innocent enough to leave both Mr. Grey and the audience wondering whether Lee -- or Gyllenhaal herself -- is aware of just how hot she really is. Lee becomes both emotionally and physically charged by her encounters with Spader's Mr. Grey, who issues commands in an unbearably sexy low voice. Spader's attractive forcefulness equals Gyllenhaal's more vulnerable role in its effectiveness of characterization. Tenaciously exacting, Mr. Grey's affection for obedience turns darkly appealing when sexy Spader ruthlessly delivers his demands. This strong opposition might suggest issues of stereotypical gender roles, but the film does not presume to make generalizations. Instead, it speaks specifically of the circumstances within one unique relationship that will define itself by the needs of the two individuals involved, however disturbing they may be. Within the deep mental and emotional issues of a somewhat alternative relationship, director Steven Shainberg creates a careful balance of mood using well-timed humor to prevent getting bogged down by the severity of the story. Meanwhile, the film pushes the boundaries of the R rating by use of implication. The things it doesn't show explicitly -- like masturbation -- are more than hinted at, while not officially breaking any limits. Taking metaphor to the extreme, Secretary allows access to the laughter and the pain of love in raw form.

releases for Secretary on AllMovie

Secretary (2002)

rate it

Secretary

editor rating

user rating

mpaa rating

flags

Nudity
Adult Situations
Strong Sexual Content
Not For Children
Profanity

genres

sub-genres

category

Feature

directed by

Steven Shainberg

countries

USA

release date

September 20, 2002 (USA - Limited)

run time

112 min.

produced by

Double A Films, SloughPond Co. [r], Twopoundbag Prods.

released by

Lions Gate Films

Submit corrections

	Title/Studio	Release Date
	Secretary [Blu-ray] Maple Pictures (Canadian) More	October 5, 2010

	The Secretary [Blu-ray] Lionsgate More	October 5, 2010

	Secretary [Repackage] Maple Pictures (Canadian) More	July 15, 2008

	Secretary [Repackaged New Artwork] Lionsgate More	July 15, 2008

	Secretary [Bilingual] Maple Pictures (Canadian) More	June 1, 2007

	Secretary Prism More	February 14, 2005

	Secretary Tartan Video More	January 5, 2004

	Secretary Lions Gate More	April 1, 2003