THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE Review

THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is not a movie for those of you who are expecting Soderberg’s big budget Ocean’s Eleven franchise. This is for those who know that Soderbergh loves doing movies like Sex, Lies & Videotape, Full Frontal, and The Limey once in a while. THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is a journal into… the daily life of an escort girl influenced by the changes around her, whether or not to give into to the concerns or just hold on to the only thing left already going for her. The timeline could be a bit confusing at times but the story’s hypnotic, the scenes are surprisingly beautiful and not a bad acting job by porn star Sasha Grey

Set in the weeks leading up to the 2008 presidential election, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is five days in the life of Chelsea (adult film star Sasha Grey in her mainstream film debut), an ultra high-end Manhattan call girl who offers more than sex to her clients, but companionship and conversation – “the girlfriend experience.” Chelsea thinks she has her life totally under control—she feels her future is secure because she runs her own business her own way, makes $2000 an hour, and has a devoted boyfriend (Chris Santos) who accepts her lifestyle. But when you’re in the business of meeting people, you never know who you’re going to meet…

I like the lighting and digital play by this movie, the same reason why I enjoyed the 2007 drama My Blueberry Nights. If you don’t have the patience you might give up on it 30 minutes into the movie, but if you’re willing to give it some time, you’ll see that Soderbergh’s style heads toward something meaningful in the end. Just immerse yourself in the dialogue, especially Sasha’s talking about each and every one of her client complaining about the economics, or her talking about the kind of clothes or shoes she’d have to wear for each occasion. Soderbergh likes to take us to a series of montage while the dialogue’s still running, he reveals bits and pieces of the climax in the beginning and walks us through how it leads up to that point in the first place before it all finally makes sense. You’re constantly wowed by the girl’s lifestyle, the people she meets, the power that the city has over those who can’t seem to live without it.

It’s a very artful film, with stunning hand held shots and at times it gives you a certain sense of solitude. In a way, it strikes me as Soderbergh’s way of recharging himself before he goes out and do another big scale Hollywood project and I respect him for this. Like Nolan, Soderbergh is a person who doesn’t forget where he came from and is not ashamed to go back to basic and do what satisfies him as a filmmaker.

Writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman try to present us this high class call girl named Chelsea with a $2000 an hour pay and yet she still can’t get away from the economic situation that’s been bothering her clients. What’s unique about her service is that it’s not just about sex, she lets them vent. She’s in a committed relationship and has certain ground rules, boundaries set up between her and her clients and yet hearing all these financial fears slowly but surely shakes her confidence. She begins to wonder if she’s good at what she does, if she needs a better website, if she needs a critic’s review, even to the point where she considers running away with a client instead of sticking with a boyfriend who loves her for who she is.

A story of insecurity and the consequence that comes when you let it run your life instead of the other way around. Many movies out there deal with interesting unique jobs but most of them fall short of having great plot or themes. THE GIRLFIREND EXPERIENCE offers more than just a call girl. It’s got sex but there’s no sex because it goes deeper than that.
Sasha Grey’s first mainstream acting gig isn’t what you’d consider outstanding but she doesn’t do awful either. Whenever she tries to shy away from certain questions that a book writer’s trying to ask, or in the part where all of a sudden it’s her whose guards are down and you see her venting to a client, or when she’s constantly thinking about her next move, Grey shows vulnerability and allows you to eventually understand her character Chelsea. You may not agree with her line of work but you’re going to embrace the reason why she’d have to do what she does for a living.

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