Fifty Shades of Grey

By: John Delia

This review may be a little nontraditional for my readers, but I thought why not give a really interesting observation of Fifty Shades of Grey based on what the mood was at the screening I attended? The auditorium was packed with women ages 21 to 40 and the very few men (mostly critics) and others speckled throughout the audience were accompanying females.  While the strength of the film does target females who either have read the book or just curious, I’m convinced that we men were fly on the wall observers of not only what’s on the screen, but the women watching.

First, the film and what it’s about.  College student Anastasia “Ana” Steele (Dakota Johnson) does her ill roommate Kate (Eloise Mumford) a favor agreeing to do an interview of the commencement guest speaker Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) for the school’s upcoming newsletter. She arrives at her destination and finds that Grey’s a billionaire telecommunications entrepreneur. Intimidated by his wealth, attractiveness and the richness of his offices, Ana finds herself slipping into a void of overwhelming distraction. Fumbling a bit and losing her posture, Christian delicately brings her back to center for the interview. 

She arrives back at her apartment with the results of the “botched”’ interview, but Kate thanks her for getting all the answers to her questions that she received in her email from Grey. Befuddled, Ana takes the complement in stride. The next day, Ana gets a visit from Christian at her hardware store job starting a friendship that will turn into romance and sexual bliss.

Most of you that are interested in seeing the film probably read the sizzling best seller by E. L. James.  Yet, it’s how well it’s portrayed on the screen, the handling of the material by screenwriter Kelly Marcel and the direction by Sam Taylor-Johnson that provides the experience necessary to make the film a blockbuster for women.  The trio have an edge being women that know how to use words and cinematography to penetrate the female psyche as this one does.

Being an open minded critic and one who sees movies from both sides of the coin, I can truthfully say Fifty Shades of Grey hits its target market like a freight train. What comes off the screen exudes sensuality, lust, susceptibility and sexual vulnerability and director Taylor-Johnson draws that kind of performances from her actors.  From the first meeting of the couple to the traumatic finale, the screen show grabs the audience and sets the ladies free to fantasize for two hours. The men get an eyeful of screen candy that’s worth the price of admission as the lovely Dakota Johnson goes from ordinary to titillating goddess midway to finale.  The sex gets so brazen, spontaneous and realistic you may even forget that it’s only acting.   

Jamie Dornan gives the perfect performance as the sexually consumed Christian Grey who’s vulnerable in his own way. Handsome and dominant he targets women he feels are sexually introverted. With Ana, he can feel the lust trapped within her fighting to get out. Flaunting his wealth and attractiveness, he easily gains her trust. Dakota Johnson works her character on the screen showing her naive weakness under the spell of controlling men. She’s also tactful and cunning; however, making Christian come to her, using him and deliberately reeling him in slowly with a taught line for the catch. The two are the perfect couple that have the chemistry to deliver this very unusual romance.

Kelly Marcel writes an enlightening erotic film for the screen where men will take notes while the women swoon at the sensual fantasy being played out on the screen.  It’s not porn as the romance looks genuine due to the chemistry between the two actors. Here dialogue and characterization are so good that the love affair easily transfers to reality within the minds of a vulnerable audience.  I could even hear women in the audience emitting nervous giggling, a few gasps at the room full of whips, then pin drop silence as they hover over every word and the visual sexual play being portrayed on the screen. But when the credits roll all too soon for most, that’s where the fantasy ends and the audience leaves it all behind as they walk out of the theater (or will they – Happy Valentine’s Day).

Fifty Shades of Grey has been rated R by the MPAA for strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language.  It’s the quickest 2 hours of stylish nudity, sex, dominance and submissive sensuality in a main stream theatrical film to date. Not for the sensitive, naive or moral conscious.  

FINAL ANALYSIS: A nicely handled recreation of a very popular novel. (A)