The Film ~ The Secretary

[shy slave]

From the UK press

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2082942,00.html

 

[Chicklet]

i actually really love the shocked look on the Lee (leigh?) 's face in the first spanking scene in that movie... *sigh*

 

[Blushing Bottom]

Interesting.

Secretary was OK but LOVED The Hunger

David Bowie was so David Bowie. Now him I could surrender if only....

From the UK press

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2082942,00.html

 

[@}-}rebecca----]

Whoa that really suprises me Miss Shy....I really looked forward to seeing the Secretary and the only part I really liked was watching her organise her duties in the beginning scene with her arms restrained. I'll keep the rest of my opinions to myself they are not so positive.

Now 'the Hunger' on the other side with Deneuve , Bowie the Limo the chaos . I sooooooooooo have to dig that out of my storage containers today.

What about that Malkovich film ..........grrrrrrrrrrrr......seriously oh my.....Ohhh then Mickey Rourke but thats a little well jaded ..........brb
goes to Google
OMG there are so many Malkovich films that are 'encouraging' grins...Dangerous Liasons, Mary Reilly , The Libertine.............I can't find the original I was refering to must have been an Art House Film

 

[shy slave]

Not seen The Hunger, will put it on my list of films to see.

I am terrible at watching films, I often get bored and end up reading and watching or wandering off.

Have three films here that Andante left in January and still not watched any of them.

 

[@}-}rebecca----]

Not seen The Hunger, will put it on my list of films to see.

I am terrible at watching films, I often get bored and end up reading and watching or wandering off.

Have three films here that Andante left in January and still not watched any of them.

Shy trust me the Hunger is 'pacey' , the music from Bauhaus to Classical....I am soooooo watching that movie tonight . I'll give a full refreshed review tomorrow if you like......lol

 

[Blushing Bottom]

Yes...yes... The Hunger.


Why don't the 3 of us curl up on the sofa and watch The Hunger and then 9 & 1/2 Weeks.

Sound like fun?

Not seen The Hunger, will put it on my list of films to see.

I am terrible at watching films, I often get bored and end up reading and watching or wandering off.

Have three films here that Andante left in January and still not watched any of them.

 

[leeroy jenkins]

Yes...yes... The Hunger.


Why don't the 3 of us curl up on the sofa and watch The Hunger and then 9 & 1/2 Weeks.

Sound like fun?

BB I have seen 9 1/2 weeks one time is there like a unrated or extended version of this film?? This is the movie that introduced me to bdsm so I would love to have it in my collection to enjoy when the mood strikes me.

 

[raven2]

BB I have seen 9 1/2 weeks one time is there like a unrated or extended version of this film?? This is the movie that introduced me to bdsm so I would love to have it in my collection to enjoy when the mood strikes me.

I don't think there is an unrated version, but you can get the DVD at amazon for 13.99.

 

[leeroy jenkins]

I don't think there is an unrated version, but you can get the DVD at amazon for 13.99.

For some reason Wally World does not carry this, could it be something like that "hot coffee" hack for GTA?? Will mostly just wonder on down to say Best Buy or something when I next see my sister, but thanks for info Raven.

 

[Blushing Bottom]

No unrated, extended versions that I know of unless there are bootleg copies out there.

...but you CAN leave your hat on!

BB I have seen 9 1/2 weeks one time is there like a unrated or extended version of this film?? This is the movie that introduced me to bdsm so I would love to have it in my collection to enjoy when the mood strikes me.

 

[leeroy jenkins]

No unrated, extended versions that I know of unless there are bootleg copies out there.

...but you CAN leave your hat on!

Well got off my duff beer and did a quick google and at amazon.com there is an unrated copy there so... I wonder what is been add or was deleted from the R version.

 

[Evil_Geoff]

Secretary, with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (side note: there is no "the" in the title. It's just Secretary)

I know folks who love the movie, folks who hate it, folks who just don't care one way or the other. Personally, I loved it. Bought it on DVD the day it was released (first, and ONLY, time I have EVER done that!)

I know people just like the characters in the movie. Me for one...

Spader's character, Edward Grey, was me when I was just discovering this lifestyle... As a newbie Dominant I was all over the place. Overbearing one minute, scared to death the next. It was like "I'm going to push this until something breaks..." then I'd be "OMG, what if someone found out?"

Gyllenhall's character, Lee Hollway, was a cutter. I know people who object to this portrayal as being negative because she's not psychologically health at the beginning of the movie. I found the character to be absolutely positive. Again, this is probably because I experienced a lot of what she went through. In pain, emotionally isolated from those around her, knowing she is other, different from her family and friends but not really understanding why... She discovers BDSM and the light finally comes on for her.

She starts exploring this world, reading books, gathering information, she finds someone, Spader, that she recognizes as a kindred spirit, the yin to her yang. She wants to submit to him.

But he struggles with this. Part of him needs it, aches for it. But part of him fights against the BDSM because it goes against everything he was taught by family, by friends, by society as a whole. He's become emotionally stunted, a real jerk, because he has never felt free to be himself.

I've walked in those shoes. I've lived that life, I've fought those battles. I was suicidally depressed before I discovered the BDSM community. Why? Because I was locked in a vanilla marriage, living in a vanilla world, killing myself a little bit each day to try to live a life by what others expected and demanded of me. I had, for one brief shining moment in my college days, a kinky, pervy, hot, BDSM in all but name, relationship, and was locked into a vanilla world for the next 15 years... Welcome to hell.

It never occured to me that real people, "normal people" shared these feelings. After all, the only sadists you read about in popular culture are the Joseph Mengele's, the John Wayne Gacy/Ted Bundy type psychopaths and serial rapists/killers. Since I wanted to hurt people, I MUST be some kind of sick, twisted, deviant just waiting to start my crime spree and kill a dozen or so people before getting caught and tried and executed, right?

Like Gyllenhaal's Lee, I was unhealthy for many years because I surpressed this part of myself. And like Lee, as I explored this world, I became healthier and happier, stronger, better because I could accept me, for who I was. Like Spader's Edward, I fought through the societal norms we are programmed with, the conformity, the egalitarianism. I came to embrace my inner sadist and found myself.

When I saw Secretary for the first time, I stood up and cheered at the end of it because someone made a movie that told MY story. Maybe not the factual events of my journey, but it nailed the emotional and spiritual journey I've travelled abso-freaking-lutely on the head. Dead bang spot on.

I understand many of the reasons people don't like Secretary, and it's not going to hurt my feelings if y'all share them. The movie has flaws, for sure. But I'll keep my copy and treasure it. It's me, and it's mine! *smile*

 

[@}-}rebecca----]

Secretary, with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (side note: there is no "the" in the title. It's just Secretary)

I know folks who love the movie, folks who hate it, folks who just don't care one way or the other. Personally, I loved it. Bought it on DVD the day it was released (first, and ONLY, time I have EVER done that!)

I know people just like the characters in the movie. Me for one...

Spader's character, Edward Grey, was me when I was just discovering this lifestyle... As a newbie Dominant I was all over the place. Overbearing one minute, scared to death the next. It was like "I'm going to push this until something breaks..." then I'd be "OMG, what if someone found out?"

Gyllenhall's character, Lee Hollway, was a cutter. I know people who object to this portrayal as being negative because she's not psychologically health at the beginning of the movie. I found the character to be absolutely positive. Again, this is probably because I experienced a lot of what she went through. In pain, emotionally isolated from those around her, knowing she is other, different from her family and friends but not really understanding why... She discovers BDSM and the light finally comes on for her.

She starts exploring this world, reading books, gathering information, she finds someone, Spader, that she recognizes as a kindred spirit, the yin to her yang. She wants to submit to him.

But he struggles with this. Part of him needs it, aches for it. But part of him fights against the BDSM because it goes against everything he was taught by family, by friends, by society as a whole. He's become emotionally stunted, a real jerk, because he has never felt free to be himself.

I've walked in those shoes. I've lived that life, I've fought those battles. I was suicidally depressed before I discovered the BDSM community. Why? Because I was locked in a vanilla marriage, living in a vanilla world, killing myself a little bit each day to try to live a life by what others expected and demanded of me. I had, for one brief shining moment in my college days, a kinky, pervy, hot, BDSM in all but name, relationship, and was locked into a vanilla world for the next 15 years... Welcome to hell.

It never occured to me that real people, "normal people" shared these feelings. After all, the only sadists you read about in popular culture are the Joseph Mengele's, the John Wayne Gacy/Ted Bundy type psychopaths and serial rapists/killers. Since I wanted to hurt people, I MUST be some kind of sick, twisted, deviant just waiting to start my crime spree and kill a dozen or so people before getting caught and tried and executed, right?

Like Gyllenhaal's Lee, I was unhealthy for many years because I surpressed this part of myself. And like Lee, as I explored this world, I became healthier and happier, stronger, better because I could accept me, for who I was. Like Spader's Edward, I fought through the societal norms we are programmed with, the conformity, the egalitarianism. I came to embrace my inner sadist and found myself.

When I saw Secretary for the first time, I stood up and cheered at the end of it because someone made a movie that told MY story. Maybe not the factual events of my journey, but it nailed the emotional and spiritual journey I've travelled abso-freaking-lutely on the head. Dead bang spot on.

I understand many of the reasons people don't like Secretary, and it's not going to hurt my feelings if y'all share them. The movie has flaws, for sure. But I'll keep my copy and treasure it. It's me, and it's mine! *smile*

Always eloquent and fierce united . As usual You rock Evil Geoff Sir and thanks to You .......from me........ for sharing that.
@}-}rebecca----

 

[RJMasters]

Secretary, with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (side note: there is no "the" in the title. It's just Secretary)

I know folks who love the movie, folks who hate it, folks who just don't care one way or the other. Personally, I loved it. Bought it on DVD the day it was released (first, and ONLY, time I have EVER done that!)

I know people just like the characters in the movie. Me for one...

Spader's character, Edward Grey, was me when I was just discovering this lifestyle... As a newbie Dominant I was all over the place. Overbearing one minute, scared to death the next. It was like "I'm going to push this until something breaks..." then I'd be "OMG, what if someone found out?"

Gyllenhall's character, Lee Hollway, was a cutter. I know people who object to this portrayal as being negative because she's not psychologically health at the beginning of the movie. I found the character to be absolutely positive. Again, this is probably because I experienced a lot of what she went through. In pain, emotionally isolated from those around her, knowing she is other, different from her family and friends but not really understanding why... She discovers BDSM and the light finally comes on for her.

She starts exploring this world, reading books, gathering information, she finds someone, Spader, that she recognizes as a kindred spirit, the yin to her yang. She wants to submit to him.

But he struggles with this. Part of him needs it, aches for it. But part of him fights against the BDSM because it goes against everything he was taught by family, by friends, by society as a whole. He's become emotionally stunted, a real jerk, because he has never felt free to be himself.

I've walked in those shoes. I've lived that life, I've fought those battles. I was suicidally depressed before I discovered the BDSM community. Why? Because I was locked in a vanilla marriage, living in a vanilla world, killing myself a little bit each day to try to live a life by what others expected and demanded of me. I had, for one brief shining moment in my college days, a kinky, pervy, hot, BDSM in all but name, relationship, and was locked into a vanilla world for the next 15 years... Welcome to hell.

It never occured to me that real people, "normal people" shared these feelings. After all, the only sadists you read about in popular culture are the Joseph Mengele's, the John Wayne Gacy/Ted Bundy type psychopaths and serial rapists/killers. Since I wanted to hurt people, I MUST be some kind of sick, twisted, deviant just waiting to start my crime spree and kill a dozen or so people before getting caught and tried and executed, right?

Like Gyllenhaal's Lee, I was unhealthy for many years because I surpressed this part of myself. And like Lee, as I explored this world, I became healthier and happier, stronger, better because I could accept me, for who I was. Like Spader's Edward, I fought through the societal norms we are programmed with, the conformity, the egalitarianism. I came to embrace my inner sadist and found myself.

When I saw Secretary for the first time, I stood up and cheered at the end of it because someone made a movie that told MY story. Maybe not the factual events of my journey, but it nailed the emotional and spiritual journey I've travelled abso-freaking-lutely on the head. Dead bang spot on.

I understand many of the reasons people don't like Secretary, and it's not going to hurt my feelings if y'all share them. The movie has flaws, for sure. But I'll keep my copy and treasure it. It's me, and it's mine! *smile*

For many of the same reasons I too enjoyed this film. Couldn't have said it better than you did so I will just say ditto.

 

[leeroy jenkins]

Anyone ever notice that James Spader plays some really sexual roles in movies?? In sex lies and vidoetape was the best friend with a habit of recording secrets of others on tape. In Crash forget what he was but that movie had some wierd sexual overtones in it. I am sure there are more just can't think of them right now.

 

[incubus'_sub]

You are right & I can't help thinking that he takes these roles because they appeal to his real self. Even his character on The Practice / Boston Legal has interesting overtones. Fascinating. He's probably my favourite actor ever.

Much as I love watching James Spader, I found Secretary quite disappointing in that it didn't go far enough for me.

 

[leeroy jenkins]

You are right & I can't help thinking that he takes these roles because they appeal to his real self. Even his character on The Practice / Boston Legal has interesting overtones. Fascinating. He's probably my favourite actor ever.

Much as I love watching James Spader, I found Secretary quite disappointing in that it didn't go far enough for me.

I agree with you there on his characters, he also might be getting a little typecast as he has played the sorta deviant so much that is the roles he gets, and yes he is good actor.

 

[@}-}rebecca----]

"A spanking scene in the 2002 film Secretary, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader has been voted the sexiest moment in film.

Second was the kiss between gay cowboys Jake Gyllenhaal (Maggie’s brother) and Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain). Third were George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez (Out of Sight). Tenth in the poll by the DVD rental service Lovefilm.com was a vampire seduction (Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon, The Hunger)."

I know I have already commented on this thread Miss Shy , though I was thinking about this while I was driving earlier. Its interesting actually that a what was considered the 'sexiest moment in film' by a predominantly mainstream audience is actually a spanking scene. I went and had a look at Lovefilm.com to see if it appeared the be fetish orientated and there is no indication that it is . As you are already aware it advertised by rather conservative media ie The Times, BBC News.

I have yet to see Brokeback Mountain or Out of Sight so its difficult to comment . However I'll take a flying guess its the manly lovin scene in the first and something more 'mainstream' in the other.

I also tried to find at the site the rest of the list but no avail. This is hardly a cathartic comment though I still find it interesting that Secretary came first.

The Hunger was released in 1983 and making 10th on the list , I don't know how much revenue these films took in though if I was a film maker I would be taking a long hard look at what makes them so desireable

 

[ThorkelGriersen]

Nine And A Half Weeks

I bought the uncut European Laser Disc years ago. Still have it. Not much difference. The scene where Mickey R buys the riding crop is about 20 seconds longer. He seems to hit her thigh rather than the table she is sitting on. Camera angle is differant so -who knows. No big deal.

THE HUNGER
The seduction of Susan Sarandon by the vampire queen Catherine Deneuve to the music of Leo Delibes' Lakme is off the wall. The freighted dialogue as Deneuve plays "Viens, Mallika" at the piano really sets it up, and as she stands to walk to Sarandon, the great Mandy Mesple recording fades in and the dialogue is soon over and "o my."----I know so well. Just re-watched that scene about three days ago. WOW!

 

[ThorkelGriersen]

Secretary

Secretary, with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (side note: there is no "the" in the title. It's just Secretary)

I know folks who love the movie, folks who hate it, folks who just don't care one way or the other. Personally, I loved it. Bought it on DVD the day it was released (first, and ONLY, time I have EVER done that!)

I know people just like the characters in the movie. Me for one...

Spader's character, Edward Grey, was me when I was just discovering this lifestyle... As a newbie Dominant I was all over the place. Overbearing one minute, scared to death the next. It was like "I'm going to push this until something breaks..." then I'd be "OMG, what if someone found out?"

Gyllenhall's character, Lee Hollway, was a cutter. I know people who object to this portrayal as being negative because she's not psychologically health at the beginning of the movie. I found the character to be absolutely positive....

I've walked in those shoes. I've lived that life, I've fought those battles. I was suicidally depressed before I discovered the BDSM community. Why? Because I was locked in a vanilla marriage, living in a vanilla world, killing myself a little bit each day to try to live a life by what others expected and demanded of me. I had, for one brief shining moment in my college days, a kinky, pervy, hot, BDSM in all but name, relationship, and was locked into a vanilla world for the next 15 years... Welcome to hell.
...

When I saw Secretary for the first time, I stood up and cheered at the end of it because someone made a movie that told MY story. Maybe not the factual events of my journey, but it nailed the emotional and spiritual journey I've travelled abso-freaking-lutely on the head. Dead bang spot on.

I understand many of the reasons people don't like Secretary, and it's not going to hurt my feelings if y'all share them. The movie has flaws, for sure. But I'll keep my copy and treasure it. It's me, and it's mine! *smile*

I've discussed this movie so often on other threads that when I type an "S" in the title, auto complete gives me "Secretary." I saw it twice in the theater and bought the DVD release day. I also applauded the movie, and I applauded when she lost control and peed in her pants. I saw this flick at an indie house a few blocks from where I live. A four screen house that devotes one screen to gay flicks. Afterwards in the lobby, a group of gay men were talking and one said: "Well, it's not my thing, but now I really understand. These people are just like evereone else. The joys, the same needs that we have."----------And for that alone the movie is worth so much.

On a Charlie Rose interview, James Spader said: "Underneath evrything, it is just a simple, sweet love story."--------A-Men

 

[chauderlos]

.................

 

[Etoile]

I would also like to applaud Evil_Geoff's post - well said!

This movie is really hot, but I don't think the spanking scene is my favorite. For me, it's when she parks herself in the chair and won't move...and then wets herself. It's not the golden shower aspect for me - it's the absolute devotion.

But it's not as hot as the spanking scene, I think...that one is hotter, but not my favorite.

 

[Blushing Bottom]

You have good taste in icons.

Actually, during the scenes David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve had together in The Hunger (Les Prédateurs ), they both used stunts, for they couldn't stand each other.
Too bad, for they both are among my favorite icons...

 

[FurryFury]

Secretary, with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (side note: there is no "the" in the title. It's just Secretary)

I know folks who love the movie, folks who hate it, folks who just don't care one way or the other. Personally, I loved it. Bought it on DVD the day it was released (first, and ONLY, time I have EVER done that!)

I know people just like the characters in the movie. Me for one...

Spader's character, Edward Grey, was me when I was just discovering this lifestyle... As a newbie Dominant I was all over the place. Overbearing one minute, scared to death the next. It was like "I'm going to push this until something breaks..." then I'd be "OMG, what if someone found out?"

Gyllenhall's character, Lee Hollway, was a cutter. I know people who object to this portrayal as being negative because she's not psychologically health at the beginning of the movie. I found the character to be absolutely positive. Again, this is probably because I experienced a lot of what she went through. In pain, emotionally isolated from those around her, knowing she is other, different from her family and friends but not really understanding why... She discovers BDSM and the light finally comes on for her.

She starts exploring this world, reading books, gathering information, she finds someone, Spader, that she recognizes as a kindred spirit, the yin to her yang. She wants to submit to him.

But he struggles with this. Part of him needs it, aches for it. But part of him fights against the BDSM because it goes against everything he was taught by family, by friends, by society as a whole. He's become emotionally stunted, a real jerk, because he has never felt free to be himself.

I've walked in those shoes. I've lived that life, I've fought those battles. I was suicidally depressed before I discovered the BDSM community. Why? Because I was locked in a vanilla marriage, living in a vanilla world, killing myself a little bit each day to try to live a life by what others expected and demanded of me. I had, for one brief shining moment in my college days, a kinky, pervy, hot, BDSM in all but name, relationship, and was locked into a vanilla world for the next 15 years... Welcome to hell.

It never occured to me that real people, "normal people" shared these feelings. After all, the only sadists you read about in popular culture are the Joseph Mengele's, the John Wayne Gacy/Ted Bundy type psychopaths and serial rapists/killers. Since I wanted to hurt people, I MUST be some kind of sick, twisted, deviant just waiting to start my crime spree and kill a dozen or so people before getting caught and tried and executed, right?

Like Gyllenhaal's Lee, I was unhealthy for many years because I surpressed this part of myself. And like Lee, as I explored this world, I became healthier and happier, stronger, better because I could accept me, for who I was. Like Spader's Edward, I fought through the societal norms we are programmed with, the conformity, the egalitarianism. I came to embrace my inner sadist and found myself.

When I saw Secretary for the first time, I stood up and cheered at the end of it because someone made a movie that told MY story. Maybe not the factual events of my journey, but it nailed the emotional and spiritual journey I've travelled abso-freaking-lutely on the head. Dead bang spot on.

I understand many of the reasons people don't like Secretary, and it's not going to hurt my feelings if y'all share them. The movie has flaws, for sure. But I'll keep my copy and treasure it. It's me, and it's mine! *smile*

I think it's cool that you found "your story" in a movie! I bet that feels just amazing!

*hug*

Fury