Mr. Grey is Pink

On Saturday my Netflix queue left "Secretary" in my mailbox. The plot of "Secretary" is as follows: Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Lee, a introverted woman who struggles with cutting. After being released from a mental institution and returning home to her dysfunctional family, Lee begins to regress. Lee is granted momentary reprieve when presented with a Secretary opening at a Law Office. Her new boss is Mr. Grey, (James Spader) a man with equally off-beat proclivities. He is an Egomaniac. Lee is inclined towards self-loathing. The combination of these two natures eventually morphs normal office dynamics into that of routine Sadomasochism. The subject matter sounds dark and indeed there are a few raw moments. However, for the most part humor and quirkiness rein over what could be a rather depressing story.

A lot of viewers would probably remember "Secretary" because of the kinky bits. However, what stuck in my brain long after the spanking subsided is James Spader's persona. Spader has played Mr. Grey before. In "Pretty in Pink" he was Steff, a calculating, cruel rich boy with feathered hair and chest cleavage. Steff's target is Andy, (Molly Ringwald) a timid 80's Cinderella who dares to defy social protocol by dating Steff's weathly friend. Throughout "Pretty in Pink," Steff terrorizes Andy for reasons I could never quite understand. Yeah, she is kinda poor (see unemployed father, home-made dress, bland split level house) but Steff's harassment is not on par with Andy's level of threat. Is it mildly irritating that a buddy is dating someone who's fashion sense mirrors that of a Grandma? Sure, but not enough to warrant making her existence a living hell.

AND THERE is the "Secretary" connection. Spader is not just a pigeon-holed bad guy, he is a type. Spader plays a Sadomasochist, no matter what the cinematic context. Still, the reason "Secretary" is him at his most believable is the fact that he has someone to beat down who doesn't shy away from the blows. Because of Lee's lack of victimization, Mr. Grey is seen as complex - both a Savior and an Aggressor. In contrast, in "Pink" he just comes off as an irate Bully with too much free time on his hands. Spader as Sadomasochist is effective only when he is allowed to transcend his assumed one-dimensional association with others on screen. If not, we as the audience are left to channel what was originally intended for the abuse recipient. Some of us are left feeling unconvinced. Other viewers enjoy it, hit play and hold out their wrists, waiting to be trussed up and debased with comforting regularity by the cold antics of James Spader...
I will part ways with a crappy found youtube slideshow, aptly entitled "Why James Spader is Hot." Relish in it. Or don't. Depends on what you like.