Secretary (2002)

Hinky Love

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is being released from the psychiatric hospital on the day her sister (Amy Locane) is being married. With weepy eyes, Lee's mother (Leslie Ann Warren) picks her up and brings her home.

But Lee is quickly drawn back into her old ways of self-mutilation when she sees her parents are still fighting, her father (Stephen McHattie) is still drinking, and her sister is still beautiful while Lee is just plain.

She begins dating a geeky old friend, Peter (Jeremy Davies) and attends secretarial school. Soon she's applying for a job with the tense and demanding lawyer E. Edward Grey (James Spader).

Lee develops an obsessive crush Grey and fantasizes about him as she hurts herself. Grey becomes aware of this and a masochistic relationship ensues in which Grey readily becomes the dominator.

While the experience is leaving Lee awakened and falling deeper in love with Grey, he is struggling with his guilt and shame in the involvement and breaks up with her -- sexually and professionally.

In desperation, Lee accepts Peter's marriage proposal but thoughs of Grey are disconcerting to her.

James Spader so often plays strange characters in unusual films and, as usual, he makes this role very real. Maggie Gyllenhaal won the Golden Globe for Best Actress for this role and other Best Actress awards including the Central Ohio Film Critics, Gotham Award, Breakthrough Award, Independent Spirit Award, National Board of Review Best Breakthrough Actress, and Online Film Critics awards for Best Breakthrough Actress and Best Actress.

Directed by Steven Shainberg. Patrick Bauchau plays Dr. Twardon, Lee's psychiatrist.

Rated R for strong sexuality, some nudity, depiction of behavioral disorders, and language.