Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young woman with a history of severe emotional problems, is released into the care of her overbearing parents following a stay at a mental institution. She finds work as a secretary for a rigid and demanding attorney, E. Edward Grey (James Spader), and starts dating the kind but dull Peter (Jeremy Davies). However, Lee soon realizes she's turned on by Grey's stern demeanor, and begins a sadomasochistic relationship with him.
The establishing shot for this film is a close angle shot at eye level of the main character,, looking into a mirror, her facial expressions are fairly enterprising. However she is also wearing quite a fancy looking top, as well as the character saying, '' I have never had a job before.'' which suggests to the audience that she is going for a job interview, but it also leaves a certain enigma for the audience too, for example, what job could she be going to, or why is she dressed so smartly, when considering the thumbnail above, influences a very promiscuous atmosphere. However, the lighting is also very dull, which could suggest that there is some sort of fog or that there is bad weather, suggesting it could be set in a city of some sort. The audience is then introduced to an over the shoulder shot of the character talking to herself through the mirror, where the audience can still see her facial expressions, and we are also introduced to the scenery as the trailer progresses. There is what seems to be a large teddy bear in the background, whilst it is hard to figure out because the camera is focusing on the mirror and the girls' facial expressions. This could imply to the audience that she is relatively child like and naive, also considering that she earlier stated that she had never had a job before, could exceed the audience's expectations that she will get into some sort of trouble or a situation which she wouldn't be comfortable in. Also, just before the establishing shot, there is a transition which has probably not been used in movies before, which slides slowly from the top to the bottom, eventually showing the whole clip, this could further influence the idea that there is a rather innocent like atmosphere.
For the next scene, there is a low angle shot of the main character walking out of her house, whilst keeping at mid shot, the camera slowly tilts upwards. The house is fairly large, which is quite common in America, due to the lower prices for amount of space, connoting to the audience that she is working class, also considering that she is going towards an interview. The character is holding some books, possibly to match along with her clothing, a smart skirt, tights, shoes, a white top, which was shown just recently and a blazer, suggesting that her job would be quite demanding. The music is fairly entertaining and adds a clumsy feel to the trailer, where a piano is being played fairly fast, but is also quiet, but adds a feeling to the trailer, implying to the audience that something is odd, that its not a usual film. We are then introduced to the interview scene, however we are only shown the man, many of the transitions used are fade to black, since there is a lot of time change, so the audience can easily decipher. The interviewer is looking away from the camera, so that we are given a different view from the main character. Some props in this scene include a tie, blazer, white shirt, flowers, and a well designed sofa. There is then an extreme close up match on action shot of the main character typing, in a typical office building, she has a lot of concentration on her face, emphasized by her tongue sticking out, which then changes to a high angled shot of her face in the bath, where she repeats the required sentence for her company's customer service.
The camera then cuts back to the interviewer talking to the main character again, stating, ''It's very dull work.'' Which is a typical stereotype of an office job. She then replies, ''I like dull work.'' However she has a suggestive facial expression, which could confuse the audience. Also we are then introduced further into the character's personality, where we are introduced to her confidence and sass. There is then a quick change of scenery of a mug shot of her looking into the camera (supposedly meant to be a mirror), which adds to the comedic value, and since this is a romance, many females or couples would relate to this moment. Then the audience is introduced to a shot of the boss when some diegetic sound of a phone ringing is introduced. Although a typical stereotype of a boss is to be controlling, upright, this character is not, he is laid back on the sofa, chilled out, crumpled up clothing, and says, '' I'm not here.'' to the main character, the camera then cuts to her face smiling, another prop, a headband is shown to us. The next shot is a p.o.v. influenced shot of her looking up towards her boss, who then hands her the phone, telling the audience that she had got the job.
After a quick change of scenery, there is a two person shot of a car, but right before that the camera tracks downwards to the car, which introduces the audience to the scenery. The weather is quite dull like typical New York weather, After another quick change in scenery there is a low angle shot of the boss opening a door, introducing the audience to quite a funky person, which is satire considering many many bosses are not like that. Then there is a montage of the boss and the main character, where the boss is being fairly annoying, imitating the phone ringing alerting the main character. telling the audience that he is quite demanding. ''You can get a much bigger voice out of that tiny...throat.'' this sentence escalates the sexual influence on this film, which could shock the audience as it is so sudden. The lighting is also fairly dull, only a small lamp is on, but some other props include random tapestry and paintings scattered throughout.
After the half way mark for the trailer we are introduced to the sexual tension between the boss and the main character, where the boss says, '' come into my office.'' and the main character replies, ''Finally!'' The transitions start to change as well, for example a typewriting styled transition is introduced, adding to the theme of an office. Also the music starts changing drastically, and it goes from clumsy to funky upbeat music. We are then introduced to a few male characters, who may be the secretary's boyfriend or family members. All of a sudden there is a match on action shot of the main character's hands tied behind a tree. The trailer then cuts with a long shot of the main character slamming a door shut, which could either be considered deigetic or non diegetic, then the music cuts and the trailer fades.
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