Okay, I’ll admit it. The first time I watched Secretary I
really didn’t get it. I thought that it was some weird attempt to make
a sex-movie, that wasn’t particularly successful. I even took it
seriously, which was the primary reason why I never enjoyed it. The
advertising campaigns for Secretary throw us off. I watched it,
expecting the wrong thing. But when I erased all of the thoughts I had
in my head after my first viewing, and watched it again, I saw the
beauty of it. This is a snappy character study, with a great taste in
black comedy. Much of this is to thank Maggie Gyllenhaal for, who has
delivered one of the best performances of the year.
Lee Holloway (Gyllenhall) is a young woman,
who has just been released back into the real world, from a mental
hospital. Coming from a problematic household, Lee never could take
giant doses of pressure and stress. Whenever she couldn’t get a grip
on things, because of all the intensity being thrown her way, she
would cut her thigh with a sharp object, as a way of relieving
herself. Hence, she was sent to the mental hospital she’s just been
released from, by her mother, for self-mutilation treatment.
The treatment proves ineffective, though,
when she reintroduces herself to the habit. In a way, the mental
hospital was better for Lee because of its simplicity. But, in an
attempt to stray from forcing herself to make the incisions in her
thigh, Lee gets a job. After all, she needs one, anyways. She is hired
by the law office of E. Edward Grey (James Spader), where she becomes
a secretary.
In the beginning, Lee’s interaction with Mr.
Grey is minimal. She is the normal secretary—a writer of letters and a
maker of appointments. Even though Lee’s life in the real world is
still far from normal, she is accepted by society (even though she
doesn’t think so), and adjusting one step at a time. As time moves on,
she and Mr. Grey’s business relationship begins to grow. He is much
more confrontational and involved with her services for him. Slowly,
but surely, she begins to understand his personality more. Before
long, they’re relationship has gotten past business, and more
personal. Lee has fallen in love with Mr. Grey, and he has gained much
control of her.
There is little real sex in
Secretary, which I mistook for a con, when viewing for the first
time. The magic of this movie is that it uses multiple feelings, to
communicate sexuality, without actually physically showing sex. It is,
really, a complete study of S&M relationships. Lee has found an
antidote for her self-mutilation, via S&M, and the strange way she can
relate to Mr. Grey. She has fallen for him, despite being him being
afraid of her. She is desperate for his approval, the only thing that
will motivate her to stop her habits of self-mutilation. This film’s
concentration on Lee is the key, and in this we see her evolution
throughout the film.
Throughout Secretary, Gyllenhaal is
pitch-perfect. Sexy and saucy, she is the perfect suit for the film,
and a tremendous performer. In the last few scenes (which are easily
my favorite), she is so shockingly good, I literally, could not
believe my eyes. This movie offers its fair share of sexual excitement
and aggression, but we never feel overblown when watching. The actors
always hit the right note, and set the mood for each and every scene.
Gyllenhaal was, definitely, robbed of an Oscar nomination for her
portrayal of Lee.
Quirky, intelligent, gutsy, and insightful,
Secretary is a fabulous study of S&M relationships, excellently
portrayed. It’s definitely the most effective film I witnessed in the
past year, because it’s not afraid to take chances. While I got the
wrong impression of it the first time I watched it, I fell in love
with during the second. One things for sure, though—it’s a nutty
achievement.
-Danny, Bucket Reviews