Secretary (USA, 104 Min, Dir: Steven Shainberg)

This was the first film of the Toronto International Film Festival that I had the pleasure of attending. Featuring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader I wasn't sure what quite to expect. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this film due to it's heavy sexual content and theme, but as with most movies who generate controversy through these issues the hoopla is just that.

Ms. Gyllenhaal is quite simply put, perfectly sublime in this role. For those of you who aren't familiar with her, her most recent/prominent role was in the cult-smash (that I cannot recommend highly enough) starring her brother, "Donnie Darko". While she played a relatively small supporting role in "Donnie Darko", she is given the full role here and fills it brilliantly.

The film centers around a troubled young woman who entertains a job as a secretary with a lawyer. She picks up the employment to bring her back a bit of "normality" and provide her some escape from her broken family. Through strange twists of said "normality" their relationship evolves. It morphs into one that has been called by the press a "bondage or sado-masochist" based affair, I actually saw it more accurately as a relationship of mutual needs. Through the evolution of their personalities and time together they become mutually co-dependant for better or worse.

Where Gyllenthaal fills the screen James Spader fills his role. He plays the part of the older/"perverted" employer that we're all used to seeing Spader play, but as my friend commented...

Start of movie:
"Spader has played so many of these roles they don't do anything for me anymore"

End of movie:
"Is James Spader married?"

This really is a testament for how convincing he is.

Overall the movie was well done. Gyllenhaals acting carries it from beginning to end and you can really relate to her character. That quirky curl of her lip (which I've been informed is the trademark of her brother as well) allows her overt simplicity to belie the great inner complexity of her character splendidly. Spaders eyes and disjointed speech reach similar ends.

As much as I loved the film the ending disappointed a bit in it's rosey-ness. I felt it betrayed the pervading black humour that carries the film, but for the most part I have to say you SHOULD see it. It's sexy, it's funny and it's a great character study. And did I mention it was sexy? Oh, and it's pretty hot too. And there aren't really any traditional sex scenes. But it's still pretty darn saucy. It's spicy too. Spicy Sauce. Sexy Hot Spicy Sauce. Like forget Tabasco and watch this.

P.S. If you have ever fantisized about spanking see this!. Not that I have, of course. right.