Photo courtesy of Jonathan Ryan, Flickr Creative Commons
BDSM, which stands for bondage, dominance, submission and masochism, has managed to extend beyond the realm of erotic novels. “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a novel written by British author E.L. James, is now also one of the highest earning R-rated premieres in film history. Opening weekend for “Fifty Shades of Grey” has come to a close earning a whopping $81.7 million domestically and worldwide, totaling approximately $239.7 million.
Timid college student Anastasia Steele and sexy billionaire sadist Christian Grey cross paths when Steele interviews Grey for her school newspaper. There is immediate fire between the two characters, played by Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, as the story stumbles into the complicated and erotic relationship.
Attractive billionaire businessman Grey has a traumatizing past that is reflected in his passionate need to be a “dominant” over the pretty brunette girl, showing her a thin line between gratification and pain. Behind the handsome grey eyes lies a man who likes flogging, clamping, whipping, caning and tying up women.
Though Grey is very devout and caring toward Steele, spoiling her and showing an intense protectiveness, Steele questions whether she should sign a contract binding her with this sexy, compassionate bachelor. The naïve college senior fears that she dug her heart way too deep into a relationship that is mature beyond her years.
The steamy novel integrates more of the characters' emotions than the actors and actresses were able to interpret on screen. It seemed as though they had difficulty performing inner monologues between two very complicated characters through eyes and body language. This was the movie’s downfall. The movie depicted some of the novel’s best scenes on screen, but a lot seemed to be missing, including some of the other key characters in the erotica.
Though it was a thrill seeing the record-breaking novel on the big screen, director Sam Taylor-Johnson left a lot to be desired. “Fifty Shades” fans should be expecting two sequels in the future: “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed.” Taylor-Johnson might be able to tie us up in the unrelenting story of the sadistic and enigmatic Christian Grey in “Fifty Shades Darker."
rblake1@ramapo.edu
