Type Caste
Maggie Gyllenhaal's a naughty Secretary but not quite naughty enough
Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is released from a mental institution, but after one afternoon with her warring parents and shrew of a sister, she's ready to return. Instead, she renews her favorite pastime -- self-mutilation -- and finds a job as a secretary in a one-man law firm, where her typing errors are punished by Mr. Grey (James Spader) with spankings and verbal bullying. Lee is in heaven. The problem comes when Grey suddenly starts to pull back. Director Steven Shainberg (Hit Me) and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson undoubtedly intended their black comedy to be both romantic and unnerving. Instead, it is slow-moving and dull. "The pain inside has to come to the surface, and when you watch it heal it proves comforting," Grey remarks when he catches Lee cutting herself -- it's too bad the film wasn't interested in pursuing that psychological thread. The judges at this year's Sundance Film Festival didn't seem to mind. They awarded the picture a Special Jury Prize for Originality.
Related Content
More About
Now Showing
Find capsule reviews, showtimes & tickets for all films in town.
Join My Voice Nation for free stuff, film info & more!
Now Trending
-
Voice Places
Find everything you're looking for in your city
-
Happy Hour App
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
-
Daily Deals
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
-
Best Of...
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
- Profile
- Newsletters
- Mobile
- Logout
