Directed By: Steven Shainberg
Written By: Steven Shainberg & Erin Cressida Wilson
Based on a Short Story By: Mary Gaitskill
Cinematography By: Steven Fierberg
Editor: Pam Wise
CAST: Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Spader, Amy Locane, Jeremy Davies, Oz Perkins, Lesley Ann Warren, Stephen McHattie
Lee Holloway is a smart, quirky woman in her twenties who returns to her hometown in Florida after a brief stay in a mental hospital. In search of relief from herself and her oppressive childhood environment, she starts to date a nerdy friend from high school and takes a job as a secretary in a local law firm, soon developing an obsessive crush on her older boss, Mr. Grey. Through their increasingly bizarre relationship, Lee follows her deepest longings to the heights of masochism and finally to a place of self-affirmation.
I love this movie as it is a love story that isn't conventional. It shows that romance and love can exist in something society deems taboo. The film opened my mind. Not that i went on to practice it, but it taught me not to judege or condemn just because i don't understand something.
Wjile there are numerous sex scenes. It's not exploitive or sensationalistic. it is mnore erotic then anything else. The film takes it's time to show a true feeling love story and romance. it's not immediate and false.The sex scenes are essential to fuilly show her discovering and furthur exploration of this new found sensation doesn;t make it a fetish.
By keeping the film low key. The location could be anywhere, giving the film a more universal appeal. The film is meticulous with small details. So the places feel lived in. The film is so crisp and clean it feels polished.
The slowness of the film at first provides a contrast to when later in the film she falls for the lawyer and begin their encounters. how it makes her feels aline and colors her world more so that the pace of the film speeds up. though it still does feel remote time to time. At least it brings excitement to the preceedings.
The film mainly stays in the confines of a few locations, but with so few characters. it could almost be a play. though one with little action and dialogue. most of the acting is done with looks and body language.
This film was the first major role for Maggie Gyllenhaal.he manages to knock it out of the park on first try. Luckily it's like with horror films usually hiring new talent to be the star of the film. She doesn't come with a reputation or a preconcieved image. So that we fully believe her as the character. She has a look of innocence but also has glimmers of seduction. She is like a predator pulling you in by or pretending to be wounded and then devouring you once she has pulled you in. She has only been as good in the movie SHERRYBABY. Thiough that film is more of a one woman show. this film is a seductive tango, that would falter without the right partner, who comes in the form of James Spader who really stages a comeback. he has the handsomeness mixed with a certain creepiness plus he has the manner of a small time resident feel and image. Which is interesting considering Gwyneth Paltrow was originally attached to play the lead role.
I wish i could say i was transfixed totally by the film. I just think i really enjoyed the story and how it is presented. It's a odd film. it is quirky but not cute quirky. It's dark subject matter. Which tries to show that S & M is not a perversion. Maggie's character is afraid of what she enjoys and is trying to hide it from her straight laced family. Most films would have has the family revelaed they aren't so straight laced only giving a facade and afraid themselves to reveal the truth about themselves. If this was a typical hollywood film her character would have been saved by the perfect guy a real knight in shining armor and show that the reason she was into S & M was low self esteem. This film let's her have a happy ending with her family not totally on board.
These characters not only fall in love but make a true connection. They look into each others souls and not only being scared by what they see but then allowing each other to feel each other's badside and vulnerability and liking what they see. Being completely open with one another and within that vulnerability and weakness bond and build a protective layer where they can support and protect one another.
When i first heard about this film. i remember thinking the film didn't sound too interesting and even with the critical acclaim. It felt to me like it was all hype. I was quite the film snob at the time. So i didn't go to see it. When it was released on dvd i decided to give it a chance. I was shocked at how good it was. I gave it a psoitive recommendation to anyone who would ask about it. Soon the whole videostor i worked at started seeing it. i was shocked at how many were turned on by the film. including a confession by a friend of how that was the kind of relationship the seeked and were in at the time. I was shocked but also had known this person for awhile and they were normal to me. So it made me rethink stereotypes that we have people who are into this type of stuff. This person was normal to me but by society's rule was considered a pervert addicted to a so called fetish. So i started to label less and understand more. Which not only heavily influenced my cinematic view but also my worldview. It directly inspired one of my short film scripts. One that started out as a one joke skit premise. That has morphed into a thought provoking exploration of relationship, That involves a kink or two. Keeping it comedic with real world overtones and a romantic comedy framework and sensability. A project that like this film is hard to label and is funny at times too
Definately worth adding to your film library.
GRADE: B+
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