Review of Girlfriend Experience (2008) by David M — 28 Nov 2009

Uneven film with equally uneven characters and acting. The film picked up steam as it went along, but struggled to really find a rhythm. It felt like it was trying to say too much at once. It was trying to be a commentary on the 2008 election and the economic situation, as well as being a commentary on love and sex. Overall I liked it, but after the very positive revews it got at the Toronto Film Festival, I was a little let down.

The first thing everyone wants to know is; How did the porn star act? Okay, I guess, is the answer, more like uneven. At first her voice put me off as something I didn't know if I could listen to for a feature length film, but she grew on me. Over the course of the film she really brought out a character, one that was hollow and shallow, but that was who she was.

The film is a little all over the place, and doesn't make a lot of sense for a good portion of it, until all the storylines come together. Its short at 77 minutes, but it packs a lot into it, too much actually. Either Soderbergh should have made it longer to fully encompass and realize all that he was trying to get across, or he should have nixed the social commentary in favor of the much more interesting take on being a call girl in a committed relaitionship. Overall, good film, but a little too much into not quite enough.