Secretary

While this dark, quirky, sadomasochistic romantic comedy isn't for everyone, it's not the subject matter that ultimately defeats the captivating, idiosyncratic performances and absorbingly twisted story, but rather the unfulfilling, incongruous, "wait a second, did I miss something?" ending that confirms Secretary only had half a story arc to begin with. Enticing Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as a fragile, frumpy, habitually self-mutilating ex-psychiatric patient who finds a secretarial job working for a peculiar, soft-spoken lawyer (James Spader) with an erratic temper and kinky peccadilloes. Belittled and degraded for every mistake and every typo, she comes to find relief--and before long excitement and power--in having her compulsion for abuse inflicted by someone other than herself, especially once things turn sexual. But after this relationship starts to get weirdly interesting, the film begins to meander into ill-defined fantasy, and since Gyllenhaal never seems to grow into someone with her own desires and determinations, her journey feels incomplete, despite the film's tacked-on blithe conclusion. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Steven Shainberg and writer Erin Cressida Wilson, a seven-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, a photo gallery and a trailer. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray Review—Oct. 12, 2010—Lionsgate, 111 min., R, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2002's Secretary features a fine transfer with DTS-HD sound. The bonus features are identical to those on the standard DVD release, including audio commentary by director Steven Shainberg and writer Erin Cressida Wilson, a behind-the-scenes featurette (7 min.), a photo gallery, and a trailer. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for an uneven film.]