See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

Ready to Buy?
findprice
Price: £1.77
In stock
45 used & new from £0.48
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Secretary [2002] [DVD]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

Secretary [2002] [DVD]

DVD ~ James Spader
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


14 new from £1.69 31 used from £0.48
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Secretary [2002] [DVD]
88% buy the item featured on this page:
Secretary [2002] [DVD] 4.0 out of 5 stars (12)
Secretary [DVD] [2003]
6% buy
Secretary [DVD] [2003] 4.1 out of 5 stars (30)
£19.59
White Palace [DVD] [1991]
2% buy
White Palace [DVD] [1991] 4.6 out of 5 stars (5)
£3.98
Shortbus [DVD] [2006]
2% buy
Shortbus [DVD] [2006] 3.7 out of 5 stars (24)
£3.98
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Actors: James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeremy Davies, Lesley Ann Warren
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 18
  • Studio: Prism Leisure Corporation
  • DVD Release Date: 7 Feb 2005
  • Run Time: 107 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000777UEK
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,295 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Product Description
James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal When Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal - Donnie Darko, Adaptation) gets a job as a secretary in a small firm she does her best to please. But her new boss (James Spader - Stargate, Crash) finds fault with her typing and administers a rather unconventional kind of punishment. Soon Lee realises that she is not only becoming the perfect secretary, but also the woman she always wanted to be. Daring, sexy and provocative, this award-winning film is a must for anyone who's ever had a hard day at work...

Synopsis
The masochist says to the sadist, Hurt me. The sadist replies, No. Everybody's happy. This strange balance plays heavily into the Steven Shainberg-directed SECRETARY, based on a short story by Mary Gaitskill. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a troubled young woman with a secret, destructive addiction fuelled by her mother's overprotectiveness and her father's alcoholism. Sheltered and wholly dependent on other people, Lee's only form of self-expression is in this private, painful habit. That is, until she meets her new boss, the lawyer E. Edward Gray (James Spader), who hires her as his secretary. It is exciting for Lee to hold down a job, even if she is a basket case in the office. Mr. Gray watches Lee, studies her, and slowly begins to correct both her typing errors and her personality flaws. At first Mr. Gray's dominance appears scary and overbearing, a true threat to Lee's naive, fragile psyche. But as the film carefully develops these unique characters, revealing their odd strengths and weaknesses, it becomes delightfully clear that Lee and Mr. Gray can genuinely help each other. SECRETARY is a bright, atmospheric movie that shines a light on the fun in this dysfunctional relationship, while using brilliant performances by Gyllenhaal and Spader to illustrate the benefits of sadomasochistic love.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

White Palace [DVD] [1991]

White Palace [DVD] [1991]

DVD ~ Susan Sarandon
4.6 out of 5 stars (5)  £3.98
Sex, Lies And Videotape [DVD] [1989]

Sex, Lies And Videotape [DVD] [1989]

DVD ~ James Spader
4.0 out of 5 stars (6) 
Shortbus [DVD] [2006]

Shortbus [DVD] [2006]

DVD ~ Yolanda Ross
3.7 out of 5 stars (24)  £3.98
9 Songs [DVD] [2004]

9 Songs [DVD] [2004]

DVD ~ Kieran O'Brien
2.4 out of 5 stars (48)  £4.98
American Beauty [DVD] [2000]

American Beauty [DVD] [2000]

DVD ~ Kevin Spacey
4.6 out of 5 stars (130)  £4.98
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(4)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
See all 19 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An American Art House Classic!!!, 18 Jul 2007
By nmollo (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
"Secretary" is a classic American film. It has the distinct flavour of a European art house film because of its intelligence, pace and style. That said this is not everyone's cup of tea. It deals difficult subjects such as sexual perversion, masochism and self harm yet the film is blatantly romantic and life affirming. It is also very funny.

The performance of Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent and beautifully observed. Her transformation from loopy repressed adolescent to sexually confident woman is a joy to watch. She becomes extraordinarily sexy. James Spader is remarkable. No other actor in Hollywood could have played this part with such conviction and humour. His performance is that of an actor unafraid by the limitations imposed on most Hollywood leading men. He is ready to try the ridiculous at whatever cost and the results are more often than not refreshing and original.

The director Steven Shainberg displays a wealth of talent and it is a shame he is not pre-disposed to direct more films. He is obviously an actor's director. The final reel is the weakest of the picture. It seems to want to apologize for the excesses of the preceding reels, which need no apology.

I was left with one lingering question as Maggie Gyllenhaal stares directly at us provoking a judgement. Does her husband fire up the lights around the sign "Secretary Wanted" as soon as he gets to work?
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Surprising..., 1 Aug 2007
By ChezzyD "chezzyd" (Swindon, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
I have to admit, I only watched this film because my sister persuaded me to. I had written it off beforehand because the trailers I saw portrayed the film as something I was certain I would not like. However when I sat down and watched it, I had to eat humble pie! Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent as self-harmer Lee, who takes a job at a secretary and develops an unconventional relationship with her boss (James Spader in the kind of role that seems to be written for him). It is interesting that Lee's confidence grows the longer she is in, what could be interpreted as an exploitative relationship, and it is never black and white what is considered 'right' or 'wrong' - in fact the more traditional relationship she could have with her more 'official' boyfriend seems bland and unfulflling in comparison. Something I really love about the film is the soundtrack, it gives the whole film a classy, other-worldly air, that maintains the sense of tongue in cheek humour without denigrating what is going on. All in all a challenging film that might well surprise you.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Private Life of an Office, 24 Mar 2005
By A Customer
There is no doubt that this film is erotic but what it is, most of all, is about the old adage that there is someone for everyone, no matter how strange you may be. These two oddball characters discover each others 'peversions' by accident - he is the controlled boss and she his nervous secretary. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a very convincing submissive masochist while James Spader plays the, almost unwilling, sadist. This role seems to have been written for him - his cold, detached, demeanor only cracking under the most extreme emotional turmoil. Even though it is a 'weird' setup you can't help cheering for them in the end.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cast, good film.
Friends recommended this film to me and I bought it to see what all the fuss was about. It's a very interesting and in parts, heartwrenchingly beautiful film, James Spader is so... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mistress Amethyst

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-abuse
This is the only film that I would watch purely for the decor. It really is a visual treat, but it has more going for it than just its looks. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Radiant Rose

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story, Just Not For The Easily Shocked
Maggie Gyllenhaal is Lee Holloway, a young woman who has just left an institute - after she was found to be self-harming, and generally wishing to commit suicide. Read more
Published 5 months ago by DL Productions UK

1.0 out of 5 stars A total failure
As you might guess from the cover this film is an over-hyped farce. It pretends to be some sort of daring look at an unconventional relationship, but by the last scene its clear... Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. Lyle

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Film.
This is one of my favourite films of all time. Its an unusual Love story, of 2 people who desperately need each other to eventualy find happiness. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Edna Little.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really my cup of tea but.....
I went into this film not really knowing anything about it. It centres around Lee Holloway who is a recovering self harmer and lawyer E. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Scottish Dave

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Brilliant
If you want to believe that human sexuality and human relationships should be all vanilla, sugar and spice, then this film is probably not for you. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Michael Axworthy

3.0 out of 5 stars Art-housy Average
Filmed using opulent fantasy-like sets and with a soft porn soundtrack, "Secretary" is a softcore art-housy style film, telling the story of the complexities of a relationship... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2006 by Green Man Music

5.0 out of 5 stars weirdly erotic
Lee a damaged self harming girl falls into a secretarys job by accident. The Lawyer Mr Grey who is her boss is curt, rude and downright agressive, strangely he becomes sexually... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2005 by lwindrush

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

  

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

›Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates