Secretary (2002) 6/10

Starring : James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeremy Davies, Patrick Bauchau, Stephen McHattie
Director : Steven Shainberg
Running Time : 112 mins

Lee Holloway (Gyllenhaal) is a self-harmer who's just recently been released from a mental home. He takes a job as a secretary working for E Edward Grey (Spader), an ever so slightly sadomasochistic lawyer who enjoys punishing his staff for every little mistake they make. Soon, Lee finds herself drawn to Grey, both because of his powerful presence and his violent behaviour towards her which fuels her need for harming herself.

This is a very strange movie, not so much in the sense that it's hard to watch but more so because the romance between the two leads is so difficult to understand. The submissive Gyllenhaal and the domineering Spader put in some very believable performances, but the problem is it's difficult to identify with them, which in my opinion weakens the film somewhat.

You’ll like this if you liked : Punch-Drunk Love