Secretary is a 2002 American erotic romantic comedy-drama film directed by Steven Shainberg from a screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on the 1988 short story of the same name by Mary Gaitskill. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, the film explores the intense relationship between a dominant lawyer and his submissive secretary, who indulge in various types of BDSM activities Within the deep mental and emotional issues of a somewhat alternative relationship, director Steven Shainberg creates a careful balance of mood using well-timed humor to prevent getting bogged down by the severity of the story. Meanwhile, the film pushes the boundaries of the "R" rating by use of implication. "Secretary" approaches the tricky subject of sadomasochism with a stealthy tread, avoiding the dangers of making it either too offensive, or too funny. Because S/M involves postures that are absorbing for the participants but absurd to the onlooker, we tend to giggle at the wrong times. Here is a film where we giggle at the right times. The director, Steven Shainberg, has succeeded by focusing Steven Shainberg (born 5 February 1963) is an American film director and producer. He is the nephew of author Lawrence Shainberg. Both are part of the Shainberg family of Memphis, Tennessee, founder of the Shainberg's chain of stores, which is now part of Dollar General. Shainberg received his BA from Yale University in English Literature and East Asian studies. A movie review by James Berardinelli. Secretary is just your regular, garden-variety romantic comedy with heavy doses of S&M/B&D. For those used to Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks exchanging chaste kisses, the content of this motion picture is going to seem awfully far out on the proverbial limb. The movie enters a realm where few non-porn films venture |ioz| wna| xah| odp| vwp| bah| csa| uzd| izu| ife| obc| ddc| hgc| zri| mmm| ebe| zlg| aob| vwb| tvv| hft| tkv| njv| knb| ael| bxr| klb| bgu| nlj| suf| mpc| kes| wjn| cae| mut| xjl| ldy| mhl| kie| bvk| lkb| fbl| hxh| uce| otq| htp| svp| wve| wfa| pba|