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Secretary

Secretary (2002)

tomatometer

75

Average Rating: 6.7/10
Reviews Counted: 142
Fresh: 106 | Rotten: 36

Maggie Gyllenhaal impresses in this romantic comedy with a kinky twist.

74

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 31
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 8

Maggie Gyllenhaal impresses in this romantic comedy with a kinky twist.

audience

83

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 56,731

My Rating

Movie Info

Sadomasochism provides the backdrop for a very unusual employer/employee relationship in this very offbeat romantic drama from filmmaker Steven Shainberg. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a shy young woman, who, after a brief spell in a mental institution, is released in the care of her overprotective mother (Lesley Ann Warren) and hard-drinking father (Stephen McHattie). Hoping to make good on her own, Lee begins looking for a job, and in her free time indulges in her odd habit of inflicting

Apr 1, 2003

$3.8M

Lions Gate

Cast

All Critics (158) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (109) | Rotten (36) | DVD (33)

The cast comes through even when the movie doesn't.

November 4, 2002 Comment
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Despite its flaws, Secretary stays in your head and makes you question your own firmly held positions.

October 17, 2002 Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A picture with heart. You shouldn't leave feeling soiled or bruised. Just touched.

October 11, 2002 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Self-serious and ultimately pedestrian satire.

October 10, 2002 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

I don't know about you, but I found all these outrageously romantic maneuvers both funny and endearing.

October 2, 2002 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Secretary is just too original to be ignored.

September 27, 2002 Full Review Source: USA Today | Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

"Secretary" recalibrates the capabilities of meaningful romantic comedy - a "Pygmalion" variation that's stealthily tender, witty but never broad and scintillatingly erotic to the point of palpitations. Gyllenhaal and Spader give career-best work.

September 23, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comment
Suite101.com

Steven Shainberg maintains a level of erotic suspense and anticipation that his terribly empathetic characters fulfill with pleasantly surprising acts of physical expression.

June 25, 2010 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment
ColeSmithey.com

This S&M satire teeters on the verge of sleaze and exploitation but never descends into those domains due to Maggie Gyllenhaal's exquisite performance in a tricky role.

December 3, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

A twisted and very funny rethinking of the romantic comedy genre. Great performances by Spader and Gyllenhaal.

April 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Cinemania | Comment

A comedy? A wake up call? I'm not sure.

October 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card | Comment (1)
Hollywood Report Card

Perhaps there is something bold about saying pain can bring healing as long as it's applied by the right hand, but that seems obvious and normal thanks to... Gyllenhaal.

June 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews | Comment
Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews

A great feature film with enough laughs, weirdness, fine performances and filmmaking flair to earn it a place on most critics' top ten of the year lists.

March 8, 2004 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
Oz
eFilmCritic.com

A grande proeza do filme é mostrar que, para os personagens de Gyllenhaal e Spader, seus desvios de personalidade não são defeitos, mas um caminho diferente para a felicidade.

March 1, 2004 Comment
Cinema em Cena
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Secretary

A progressive story from self harm to S&M, quite a strange view on the subject and the style in which it presents itself and yet something makes this film an intriguing watch.Maggie Gyllenhaal is once again comfortable with her body in this film, which must make awkward viewing to Brother Jake at times.

October 18, 2006
76Majikat

Super Reviewer

everyone praises actors, directors whenever a good movie is made, but me, i praise the script-writer. i like to listen into the dialogues and discover some hidden emotions behind the words. ERIN CRESSIDA WILSON is the writer for this picture, and she made it happen. i liked her choices of words so well that i had to

February 16, 2010
groaningbitch
Veronique Kwak

Super Reviewer

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Latest News for Secretary

July 17, 2008:
Maggie Gyllenhaal Talks The Dark Knight
It's a far cry from indie fare like Secretary or Sherrybaby, but for Maggie Gyllenhaal, taking on...

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Foreign Titles

  • Secretary - Womit kann ich dienen? (DE)
  • La Secrétaire (FR)
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