"Secretary"-- major RAVE for this film!

[tjdee]

I caught this last night on one of the million HBOs I have, and WHOA.
I didn't really expect to like it because I was under the impression that it was a kinky but mediocre film, I'm not into that, etc. And there was indeed some major dysfunction and I really got to see much more of Maggie Gyllenhaal than I ever want to see again.

However--James Spader :loveya: . He really made his character three dimensional, which turned out to be really important. Gyllenhaal did as well, I guess as the main character she had to, but the two of them kept it above kink. I hope Spader gets some recognition for his work, he's always quite effective. And for this cheeseball, the last twenty minutes of the plot were SO WONDERFUL....it was well played and made a nice point.

So, um.....go see it right now. Thank you.

[muchacho]

1. Spader

If you like Spader's role in Secretary check him out in The Practice. He's basically doing the same role and it's FANTASTIC!

[tjdee]

5. I haven't caught it yet and won't tonight :(

I really want to catch the Practice tonight, but all the tvs in my house will be tuned to Angels in America. Although, truthfully, there will be a reairing of AinA, and no reairing of The Practice.....

Tough choice.....boy he's good.

[okieinpain]

14. you guy's aren't serious are you. that is some really scary shit

to think that people get off on humiliation, and pain. whatever happened to good on plain sex.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. Plain sex might work for you but...

it's not for everyone. I'm not into it, but I don't consider it scary shit. Anything between consenting adults is perfectly fine by me.

[Whitacre D_WI]

2. Excellent film.

n/t

[xultar]

3. OMG I saw it Wednesday NIGHT. I'm SOOO IN LUV with JAMES SPADER

AWESOME film, I'm gettin the DVD!

Everyone if you haven't seen it your shortin' yourself.

James Spader...man I could really feel his hatred for himself...and disgust.
OMG you gotta see this film!

[tjdee]

4. That's what I'm TALKIN about!!!

After this film I'm officially in movie-love with James Spader!

:loveya:

[RobinA]

6. I've Loved Spader

since "Less Than Zero," but I gotta say I hated "Secretary." It was no "White Palace" or "sex, lies and videotape."

[tjdee]

8. I've seen neither of those, LOL!

I do think that Spader didn't have as much to do as "I" would have given him to do, and the script....eh, I always have problems with the script, but I really liked it, can't explain it.

Though, I can't compare it to the movies you named (plus, Andie Macdowell drives me up a wall with her acting although she is quite beautiful). Maybe if I did I would have hated Secretary!

I've never heard of White Palace...what's the plot there?

[amazona]

11. don't miss white palace!

He gets it on with Susan Sarandon.

I like it better than Secretary but I'll go see him in anything.

[RobinA]

17. In a Nutshell

White Palace -

Spader plays an uptight yuppie control freak who can't get over the death of his wife in a car accident. He doesn't date.

He meets up with un-uptight, waitress Susan Sarandon who takes him home to her house on the other side of the tracks and shows him a better time than he's ever had in his life. He's not at home at her house down by the chemical plant, but he can't stay away. Both have baggage, including socioeconomic issues. He tries to change her, she resists being changed, families meet, civilizations clash.....

Very hot. Not to be missed by any Spader fan.

[madrchsod]

7. watched the whole film

last night. spader has played the creepist charactors in recent memory, but this role he has taken it to a new level.i`ll probably watch it again.

[Khephra]

9. Funny that you mention this movie

I taped it off last night to watch sometime this week.

[brainshrub]

10. I agree. Great movie.

I love the way the movie ends.

[tjdee]

12. That was what sent it off the charts for me.

I wasn't expecting that ending (and that would have been okay) at all, it's what made the movie for me.

[chefgirl]

13. Excellent movie...

I rented it when it first came out. Watched it about 5 times. I've been in love with James Spader for years. 'Less than Zero and White Palace' are two of my favorite movies.
This movie really knocked me out. To deal with the subject matter was enough for me, but add James Spader to the mix and WOW!!

-chef-

[Spirochete]

15. Spader's very good

I liked the movie "Bad Influence" he did with Rob Lowe, too. And "True Colors" with John Cusack.

[marigold20]

16. Yes - loved Maggie G. (can't spell her last name)

My twenty-something son saw this movie and told me in a phone call that it was "interesting" and that he liked it. In another phone call, I mentioned that we had rented it. You could hear the fear in his voice when he asked what I thought of it. He still can't believe that we liked this movie.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

19. Read it aloud!

:evilgrin:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

20. I thought it was terrific...

At heart, really just a simple love story, that gives us hope that there is a neurosis out there that will perfectly fit ours! :)

One of my favorite scene was the one with Spader hiding in the closet from his ex. There was something delicious about seeing a "Dominant" cringing in fear when faced with a REAL Dominant.