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DVD Review
Secretary
By Lee Tistaert Published April 24, 2003
US Release: September 20, 2002
Directed by: Steven Shainberg
Starring: James Spader , Maggie Gyllenhaal
R
Running Time: 104 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $4,047,000
Directed by: Steven Shainberg
Starring: James Spader , Maggie Gyllenhaal
R
Running Time: 104 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $4,047,000
B
57 of 143
A partly funny and engaging journey into the weirdness that can evolve in the every-day life
If you?re like me and saw the trailer for Secretary in theaters and felt it summed up the entire film in two minutes time, don?t be fooled.
Secretary is an oddly compelling story whose characters have depth, which persuades our interests to want to learn more. It?s a film that thrives due to its well-built script that permits the actors to take full charge of the personalities. The people on screen have realistic roots and real dilemmas challenging their every-day way-of-being. In a sense, the flick scores its biggest points due to staying close to the characters the entire way through; we get to know them scene-by-scene, which isn?t a frequent component with today?s filmmaking.
The film really is an odd tale, as it presents characters that are far from perfect, but the oddness is not their flaws but the way in which the fable is told circulating around their imperfections. We get introduced to people who have awkward personalities yet who are so appealing due to that very point. Secretary could be looked upon as an experiment in storytelling; a plot is not necessarily what this film contains, but more so consists of a journey into the mindsets of these behaviors. Its characters have range (beneath the surface) of which we?re educated on, and as bizarre as their lives are we somehow find connection with these complex souls; they?re different, but that?s what makes them so fascinating.
The film tells the story of a young woman, Lee Halloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), as she?s looking for a job. She?s quick with her hands in terms of typing, but has an uneven past: Lee was just released from a mental hospital following a brief visit. Stumbling upon an offer at a local lawyer?s office, she applies for the secretary position for Mr. Grey, played by James Spader, and is accepted.
The film?s journey revolves around Lee?s gradual crush on Mr. Grey, yet the relationship that forms is a bit of an eccentric one. Grey is a verbally abusive lawyer whose calm and confident nature makes him one to study from the audience?s perspective. The way in which he speaks feels very distinctive, but the form of which his character is brought about forces the viewer to really examine his personality.
The movie is not about a goal to be accomplished, but about the characters and how they change as the story progresses. In one dimension the film has a bit in common with Laurel Canyon in that it?s a story based around the members of the story, yet the ambitions can be an unknown at times. However, in both cases the script has been written so confidently that rather than trying to anticipate the future, we focus on the present and analyze the details; or if not analyzing, it?s the intrigue that is forcing attention spans to remain constant. The folks we?re observing are more than people within a page; the characters are human and function like we do, and even if their routines or dilemmas are different from ours their intentions are what captivates curiosity.
For the most part Secretary is an oddball sexuality tale, but it is written so cleverly with the right taste for offbeat humor that instead of dipping into clich? or formula territory, the fable presents an exploration that is seldom told. While Maggie Gyllenhaal?s performance is one to praise, it is James Spader who is the real surprise; through his conversion into Mr. Grey, he breathes the life and personality of the persona; and just as Gyllenhaal?s character, we sometimes are in awe of his actions due to the acting delivery. The execution makes me wonder why Spader didn?t get nominated for a Golden Globe award, as it is one of the most convincing portrayals I?ve seen in recent time. He didn?t have to win, but getting recognized is sometimes all that matters.
Though the theatrical preview for Secretary gives off a lot, most of the experience hands in an intriguing time where the viewer is both entertained and being allowed to observe the details of the environment. And when I note that I don?t suggest that it?s a brain challenger, but that the peculiarities within the performances and script are what move us to want to keep going. It?s a film that?s a bit more complex than it appears, and it?s the complexity that shapes our curiosities. While definitely an art-house flick, it does carry virtues of a mainstream production.
With its sharp and occasionally awkward sense of humor, Secretary rides above some of the typical romantic adventures in the genre; it cares for the characters on screen, and because of that the emotion is contagious. A partly funny and engaging journey into the weirdness that can evolve in the every-day life, Secretary is a strong rental and should please anyone who admires good filmmaking when it comes along, or even just a story that captures one?s attention.
Secretary is an oddly compelling story whose characters have depth, which persuades our interests to want to learn more. It?s a film that thrives due to its well-built script that permits the actors to take full charge of the personalities. The people on screen have realistic roots and real dilemmas challenging their every-day way-of-being. In a sense, the flick scores its biggest points due to staying close to the characters the entire way through; we get to know them scene-by-scene, which isn?t a frequent component with today?s filmmaking.
The film really is an odd tale, as it presents characters that are far from perfect, but the oddness is not their flaws but the way in which the fable is told circulating around their imperfections. We get introduced to people who have awkward personalities yet who are so appealing due to that very point. Secretary could be looked upon as an experiment in storytelling; a plot is not necessarily what this film contains, but more so consists of a journey into the mindsets of these behaviors. Its characters have range (beneath the surface) of which we?re educated on, and as bizarre as their lives are we somehow find connection with these complex souls; they?re different, but that?s what makes them so fascinating.
The film tells the story of a young woman, Lee Halloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), as she?s looking for a job. She?s quick with her hands in terms of typing, but has an uneven past: Lee was just released from a mental hospital following a brief visit. Stumbling upon an offer at a local lawyer?s office, she applies for the secretary position for Mr. Grey, played by James Spader, and is accepted.
The film?s journey revolves around Lee?s gradual crush on Mr. Grey, yet the relationship that forms is a bit of an eccentric one. Grey is a verbally abusive lawyer whose calm and confident nature makes him one to study from the audience?s perspective. The way in which he speaks feels very distinctive, but the form of which his character is brought about forces the viewer to really examine his personality.
The movie is not about a goal to be accomplished, but about the characters and how they change as the story progresses. In one dimension the film has a bit in common with Laurel Canyon in that it?s a story based around the members of the story, yet the ambitions can be an unknown at times. However, in both cases the script has been written so confidently that rather than trying to anticipate the future, we focus on the present and analyze the details; or if not analyzing, it?s the intrigue that is forcing attention spans to remain constant. The folks we?re observing are more than people within a page; the characters are human and function like we do, and even if their routines or dilemmas are different from ours their intentions are what captivates curiosity.
For the most part Secretary is an oddball sexuality tale, but it is written so cleverly with the right taste for offbeat humor that instead of dipping into clich? or formula territory, the fable presents an exploration that is seldom told. While Maggie Gyllenhaal?s performance is one to praise, it is James Spader who is the real surprise; through his conversion into Mr. Grey, he breathes the life and personality of the persona; and just as Gyllenhaal?s character, we sometimes are in awe of his actions due to the acting delivery. The execution makes me wonder why Spader didn?t get nominated for a Golden Globe award, as it is one of the most convincing portrayals I?ve seen in recent time. He didn?t have to win, but getting recognized is sometimes all that matters.
Though the theatrical preview for Secretary gives off a lot, most of the experience hands in an intriguing time where the viewer is both entertained and being allowed to observe the details of the environment. And when I note that I don?t suggest that it?s a brain challenger, but that the peculiarities within the performances and script are what move us to want to keep going. It?s a film that?s a bit more complex than it appears, and it?s the complexity that shapes our curiosities. While definitely an art-house flick, it does carry virtues of a mainstream production.
With its sharp and occasionally awkward sense of humor, Secretary rides above some of the typical romantic adventures in the genre; it cares for the characters on screen, and because of that the emotion is contagious. A partly funny and engaging journey into the weirdness that can evolve in the every-day life, Secretary is a strong rental and should please anyone who admires good filmmaking when it comes along, or even just a story that captures one?s attention.
Lee's Grade: B
Ranked #57 of 143 between Morvern Callar (#56) and Moonlight Mile (#58) for 2002 movies.
Ranked #57 of 143 between Morvern Callar (#56) and Moonlight Mile (#58) for 2002 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
