Maggie Gyllenhaal – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Secretary (2002)

February 8, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, F-Rated, RomanceTagged adaptation, BDSM, Drama, Erin Cressida Wilson, James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Gaitskill, RomanceLeave a comment

Adapted from Mary Gaitskill’s short story by Erin Cressida Wilson (Men Women and Children, The Girl on the Train), this film has accrued the kind of cult acclaim that Fifty Shades could only dream of.

Lee (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a troubled young lady with self-harming tendencies when she starts working at a small law firm for the demanding Mr. Grey (James Spader).

With strong themes of sexuality and BDSM, this film is dark and erotic and really human. It’s not for the squeamish or the faint of heart, but it is beautifully, stylishly done and the two leads are perfection.

100 Word Review – Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

June 8, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, RomanceTagged Comedy, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Literary, Maggie Gyllenhaal, philosophy, Queen Latifah, Romance, Tony Hale, Will FerrellLeave a comment

“This may sound like gibberish to you, but I think I’m in a tragedy.” – Harold Crick

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an IRS agent who starts hearing his life narrated (by Emma Thompson) in his head, foretelling his upcoming death. Running out of options he seeks the help of a local literary professor (Dustin Hoffman).

This is a brilliant comedy that combines philosophical and literary theory to examine our control over our own destiny, how far we would go to preserve that, and what it’s like to live a story.

Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal co-star in this extraordinary film.