Review of Girlfriend Experience (2008) by Jim G — 15 Aug 2010

Interesting movie which plays with ideas like the need of men to control women how that works and doesn't work with the basic need for love and physical companionship in an extreme situation. The life of a high end escort.

The main character of the movie as several reviews note is played in an understated way. I don't think this was in error. In fact the movie addresses her flat affect expressly, noting that it is part of what is required of the profession. Furthermore, the primary point of the movie is focused outward from the main character. The issues addressed are (1) how does a high-end escort operate in world of business? and (2) how do men interact with her?

The whole movie is very cold in asking and analyzing those issues. At times it has the feel of a documentary. To some the treatment in that respect may feel incomplete. And the way the film is cut combined with the fact that it just kind of flirts with the questions it asks may make it seem incomplete. Oh well. I liked it anyway.

In conversations about this movie with friends, I keep coming back to the same discussion - with respect to escorts. Are you the type of guy who would pay for a woman to go away or stick around? Maybe I know a bunch of guys who don't like women that much. Or I suppose they know something about escorts that I don't - which leads me back to - maybe they don't like women that much.