An awkward college grad (Dakota Johnson) is slowly seduced by a sexy young billionaire (Jamie Dornan). This is really just a cat-and-mouse romance with a BDSM twist. It’s success depends on the performances of the 2 leads and the director’s skill at maintaining tension in what’s basically a dialogue. Surprisingly, Dornan is prettier than Johnson, but they both create characters that are complex and compelling. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson has filled the film with sexually-charged stress and attractively erotic sex scenes. It’s every woman’s dream of a dazzling, devoted lover (granted, with some emotional complications) and it’s played out with alluring skill.
(4.5 / 5)