Review of Secretary (2002) by Grant T — 25 Jul 2012

An odd but great romantic dramedy with a highly original script with excellent and good-hearted performances from Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. The movie is kinky, sometimes intense and may have strong content, but its a really good hearted, emotional and original movie, making this Maggie's star making role thanks to her provocative and charming performance, but there is a lot of emotions in her performance, she uses pain to please her and to get the anger out, she wants to feel desire from Spader's character and doesn't feel the same emotions from her boyfriend than her weird relationship with her boss (James Spader).

And they both make really good chemistry, the chemistry is really kinky and romantic at the same time. When Maggie Gyllenhaal did this film, she was very young, and this role was very tough and strong for her, sense she did a frontal nude scene only at 26 years old, and that was a risky scene and choice for her and she handled it really well.

I'm glad I saw this film, it shows the obsession, the kinky, the way of dealing with pain in the way it should be dealt with, the insane, the intense and the weirdness of odd relationships all in a good way with a satisfying twist and ending.