Customer Reviews
A total failure - By: M. Lyle, 06 Oct 2008 
As you might guess from the cover this film is an over-hyped farce. It pretends to be some sort of daring look at an unconventional relationship, but by the last scene its clear that the couple have settled down to a quiet life in suburbia. Secretary is basicallly a weak love story beefed up with a hint of s & m.
You might have thought that the days when a sexy movie poster would sell a film were gone; alas slick marketing can still make an utterly underwhelming film into fairly big box office. I cannot remember being so disappointed by any other film I have seen, it is sterile rubbish dressed up as an "alternative" movie. Anyone who thinks there is anything daring or shocking here needs to get out more.
Fantastic Film. - By: Edna Little., 31 Mar 2008 
This is one of my favourite films of alll time. Its an unusual Love story, of 2 people who desperately need each other to eventualy find happiness. It^s amusing, warm & has the perfect ending.! James Spader is superb as usual. Above alll it^s not the everday done a million times love story, it^s something realy different & entertaining.
Not really my cup of tea but..... - By: D. Lodge, 22 Feb 2008 
I went into this film not reallly knowing anything about it. It centres around Lee Holloway who is a recovering self harmer & lawyer E. Edward Grey who she goes to work for.
Grey discovers that Holloway is still self harming & sternly instructs her not to anymore. Graduallly their relationship escalates into Grey's sexual dominance of Holloway until he gets cold feet.
Secretary is a strange film. I never found it particularly erotic & the initial self harming scenes are slightly disturbing. However, the relationship that evolves between the two leads is very well played out & both deserve credit for their performances.
In many ways this is a love film. Although not a typical love film, where two characters falll in love through their unconventional sex life.
Not reallly my cup of tea but I can see why people are big fans of the film.
5/10
Simply Brilliant - By: Michael Axworthy, 11 Jan 2008 If you want to believe that human sexuality & human relationships should be alll vanilla, sugar & spice, then this film is probably not for you.
But if you want to enjoy an honest, well-made, perfectly performed film that is prepared to look at the ways that people may find fulfilment in the most unlikely practices, & if your understanding of people does not begin & end with the normal rules about sexual harassment at work, then you will like it.
Surprising... - By: ChezzyD, 01 Aug 2007 
I have to admit, I only watched this film because my sister persuaded me to. I had written it off beforehand because the trailers I saw portrayed the film as something I was certain I would not like. However when I sat down & watched it, I had to eat humble pie! Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent as self-harmer Lee, who takes a job at a secretary & develops an unconventional relationship with her boss (James Spader in the kind of role that seems to be written for him). It is interesting that Lee's confidence grows the longer she is in, what could be interpreted as an exploitative relationship, & it is never black & white what is considered 'right' or 'wrong' - in fact the more traditional relationship she could have with her more 'official' boyfriend seems bland & unfulflling in comparison. Something I reallly love about the film is the soundtrack, it gives the whole film a classy, other-worldly air, that maintains the sense of tongue in cheek humour without denigrating what is going on. All in alll a challlenging film that might well surprise you.
