Secretary (2002)
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AKA: –
Directed by: Steven Shainberg
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal (Lee Holloway), James Spader (E. Edward Grey), Jeremy Davies (Peter), Lesley Ann Warren (Mother), Stephen McHattie (Father)
Country: USA; Effed Up American Films
Language: English (Optional Eng Subs)
Runtime: 01:51:03
Genres: BDSM, Self-Harm, Sexual-Violence against Women
Plot – Spoilers:
What happens when you’re too sensitive and the things that upset you are usually other people’s problems which you deal with by hurting yourself instead. Lee is just out of hospital having done time for a cutting moment that got out of control. Back home, the atmosphere isn’t ideal – sister is excited to be married, mother is nervous and oppressively protective of her and father is mostly drunk. Lee tries to seek familiar comfort in selfharm, but it just won’t do. But then she finds employment as a secretary to a lawyer, who might have the right-sized hand for her empty glove.
I just can’t bear to sit through this movie and have to look at Maggie Gyllenhaal’s pug-nosed hideous ugly face for 2 hours and her awful failed attempt at acting. Who on earth ever thought that we would want to look at her hairy vagina roast-beef curtains and her flat B-cup titties? Watching this inflicted me with an extended chronic erectile dysfunction condition. Very bad choice in casting.
I really want to like this movie but the childish portrayal of sadomasochism and an extremely unsexy James Spader ruin this for me.
Strong 5/10
I thought it was hawt back in 2002. Maggie Gylenhaal is foxy in submission.
Lawyers are lunatics playing dress up.
Let’s face it. American’s can’t make a BDSM movie.
Very cool plot synopsis EUM.
You could substitute self harm for any drug and it would be the same movie
not worth it.
you do see them finally ( o )( o )
Pretty good movie. Suffers from typical American silliness – and silliness as a whole, since it’s quite obviously a bit of a fantasy someone had and a bit of a rant – but overall it tells an OK story with well written characters – characters for which this movie definitely deserves to be on effedup. It shouldn’t be bashed too hard for being silly, as it is after all a comedy – even if a black one. It’s quite comforting, seeing messed up people find comfort in each other, and I can only hope to find my own Ms. Holloway.
There ain’t nothing better than a heart-shaped ass….. (see movie poster)
My Soul mate and I along with a few other veteran Spankos tried to use this movie to introduce some sad, boring, post-hippie, self righteous swingers to a deeper level of understanding and tolerance of our lifestyle (Since we were among them) I wish that I had had a deeper part in the film selection. I will say one thing for it…It’s not 50 shades of stupid! A kink shaming masterpiece of sex negative, inaccurate, judgemental piece of fucking rabid canine smegma.
I loved this film. It’s kind of “mild” in comparison to some of the stuff I’ve seen/read now but it’s still a favorite. James Spader is always a treat.
people say this movie is overrated I say it kicks you right in the nuts. At the end she is dropping dead cockroaches on the bed beginning to break the man down. On a long enough timeline everything drops to zero
Possibly one of the best movie posters of all time. Shame the movie was such a flop.
Now that’s what I call a love story????
Not effed up at all, just a beautiful love story.
As someone who practices both self harm and bdsm, this movie is rubbish and the relationship between the main characters doesn’t make sense
Current rate on IMDB:7 I believe this movie is way overrated, level of BDSM was very low and ending was too silly.