
Slant Magazine
The film treats the subject of S&M with a kind of confused interest worthy of Madonna.
Full reviewA young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (who was nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe for this role), and James Spader (Sex, Lies and Videotape).
The film treats the subject of S&M with a kind of confused interest worthy of Madonna.
Full reviewIt provokes nothing but yawns, and the sex it explores is stuff everybody knows about and says, 'So what?'
Full reviewProfound, witty and insightful... are probably three of the things "Secretary" wants to be. Unfortunately, with its slight, overstretched story, and facile moral, this Sundance Festival winner disappoints.
Full reviewApproaches the tricky subject of sadomasochism with a stealthy tread, avoiding the dangers of making it either too offensive, or too funny.
Full reviewAs darkly comic as it is, Shainberg’s picture addresses themes that are deadly serious.
Full reviewSadomasochism is treated as a joke in Secretary, but the fun of the movie is that it’s also much more than a joke.
Full reviewSecretary is available to stream in New Zealand now on Netflix and Apple TV.
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