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Secretary

So sensuous, taboo, steamy, raw and seductive is "The Secretary" that it goes beyond the red light of "no," but when watching it you can see it makes sense to the two main characters. They let their emotional needs awake each other. They open up their vulnerabilities so well that it's not wrong to say that they are having a relationship and what they are doing with each other is acceptable, because both want what the other is giving them.

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a young woman whose turbulent home life has gotten the best of her emotional state. This resulted in her admittance into a psychiatric facility. Once her time is completed, Lee is scheduled to be released on the day of her sister's wedding. Peter (Jeremy Davies), an old high school acquaintance, becomes an attraction for her, but Lee is just not sure if he's the right guy for her and she doesn't want to settle just to have just a "somebody" in her life.

Living at home is still on the unsteady side with the abuse and alcoholic problems presented by her parents, Joan Holloway (Lesley Ann Warren) and Burt Holloway (Stephen McHattie), as well as Lee's need to inflict pain on herself. The pain seems to release the built up hurt of the troubled existence surrounding her.

As Lee tries to break out of her own rutted and crazed atmosphere, she looks ahead to the prospects of finding a job. Her skill lies in her ability to type at high speeds with hardly any errors. Her first interview is with Mr. Grey (James Spader), a lawyer with an odd first impression where he looks frazzled and asks personal questions about Lee's love life. The job interview is practically killed by Mr. Grey saying how terribly uninteresting it would be to work for him; however, Lee is so taken and thrilled with the whole possibility of working that it happily shocks Mr. Grey in a mysteriously perplexing way.

As time passes both Lee and Mr. Grey form an unorthodox, highly erotic, sado-masochistic relationship. Their pleasures are rewarded by how the other responds to the excitment of this flirty and sexual interaction; although, they never have their encounters consummated in the traditional way.

One of Mr. Grey's quirky obsessions is nit picking over tiny spelling errors that seem to arouse the need to discipline Lee in ways that make her more motivated and free to express herself thoroughly. He is able to give Lee, for the first time, an opportunity to gain control over her own actions and decisionmaking without anybody else's help. Lee, in time, will also reach a place in Mr. Grey's demon hideaway, deep inside his own untouchable psyche, and perhaps alleviate his pain that is unable to surface.

I've never seen James Spader so powerfully creepy, erratic, sensuous, and brilliant as he was in this movie where he took this character inside himself and let the personality stew and simmer until his boiling point was magnified. Then, he gently brought it down to a gentleness that made you see the true fun-loving person that he really was. Included, is his ability to maintain a character with such a freakiness, smoothness, and a sexual tension, so heated with desire that it was excruciatingly good to watch!

Maggie Gyllenhaal was exceptional in a daring and tricky role. She demonstrated the great ability of controlling her character's moods and making it believable. Watching her progress and appearance change throughout the movie gives you the chance to see who she really wants to be and what she's willing to do to keep it open and fresh. A special note is at the end scene where her face just speaks to you about all the swarms of naughtiness she has in store for Mr. Grey.

I loved the song "I'm Your Man" by Leonard Cohen. His husky and sensuous tones give a sexiness and fun to the plan of action that you can only assume is going to let loose soon after the scene has finished. The music in general was quite pleasing. It set up many entertaining scenes that gave this movie even more intelligent and provocative subject matter to soak in.

This is a completely original and highly unusual story of two people who find love and gratification with one another in a kinky and twisted way. It's as sexy as it is healthy. This encounter is an outlet for both to express their inner desires and keeps them fulfilled in ways they never thought possible.

Their existence is outside of the world of everyday people: living their lives, making a career, and living among others. In a quiet, yet typical, environment they keep those home fires burning!

Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 9.40
Reader's Votes: 45

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