ASSUME THE POSITION.
Former mental patient Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a secretary for a lawyer (James Spader); together they boldly explore the possibilities of S/M sex. Gyllenhaal got her breakthrough in this movie that provides her with a part many actors would kill for; she’s brilliant as the woman who finds strength in her life for the first time thanks to the games she plays with her boss. The focus lies on fragile human beings and their commitment to sex and humiliation, but the filmmakers do it in a darkly humorous and absurd way that will keep viewers interested. In the end, it even turns romantic. Spader also deserves praise.
2002-U.S. 112 min. Color. Produced by Steven Shainberg, Andrew Fierberg, Amy Hobby. Directed by Steven Shainberg. Screenplay: Erin Cressida Wilson. Short Story: Mary Gaitskill. Cast: James Spader (E. Edward Grey), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Lee Holloway), Jeremy Davies (Peter), Patrick Bauchau, Stephen McHattie, Oz Perkins… Lesley Ann Warren.
Trivia: Gwyneth Paltrow was allegedly considered for the part of Lee.
Last word: “It was clear from my first audition that [Shainberg and I] could communicate and that he was smart and a real thinking person, which was comforting to me. But I still wasn’t sure about the film. The thing that pushed me over the edge was that I asked him what he wanted the message of the movie to be, and he said, ‘Listen Maggie, I don’t know what I’m going to say. If I knew what I was trying to say, I wouldn’t have to make it. I know what I want to explore, though.’ I was so moved by that, I decided to do it.” (Gyllenhaal, BBC)
