Secretary

After watching this, a friend of mine described it to me as okay, but very interesting. I typically like most movies that Maggie Gyllenhaal is in (especially Stranger Than Fiction) so I figured I would give it a try.

Plot: After being released from a mental institution, Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), gets a job as a secretary as she tries to adjust to living in the real world again. Her struggle is mainly against herself as she tries to prevent from reverting back to self-mutilation to ease her pain.

Twist: Her boss in the movie, E. Edward Gray (James Spader), is a lawyer who has some issues of his own that make for an interesting match with Lee Holloway.

Memorable Quote: “One scoop of creamed potatoes. A slice of butter. Four peas. And as much ice cream as you’d like to eat.”

(Spoilers Below)

My Thoughts: Although I also enjoyed the performance of Gyllenhaal, I thought Spader was really in his element as he played yet another creepy character. Not as creepy as his role in Wolf, but no less unusual. I’m guessing his role in this movie may have played a big part in getting a part as a lawyer on Boston Legal. Of course I don’t watch the show, so this is really just a guess from the small parts that I have seen. Since I can’t really relate to the S&M life style (perhaps only due to lack of effort) this movie didn’t exactly hit home. The only thing that really held my attention was the curiosity of what might happen next so I guess there’s something to be said for that. I’m not sure what that is…but I’m sure there’s something.

Who Will Like This Movie: Anybody who is into S&M or didn’t get enough Gyllenhaal nudity in SherryBaby.

Rating: 5 out of 10