Review of Girlfriend Experience (2008) by Zane U — 13 Jul 2009

My reaction to The Girlfriend Experience kept changing as I watched it, leaving a good chance that this rating will want to be a 4 or a 3 in a couple days. However, I think I've got it right with a 5.

There is so much complexity in this movie, stemming entirely from the almost asphyxiating air of mystery surrounding "high-class" escort, Chelsea. She gives customers the titular "girlfriend" experience but doesn't share anything about her personal life with them.

Her gimmick is that of a sophisticated call-girl, but in her real life she acts like Paris Hilton with a soul (which is admittedly better than the real Paris Hilton). She seems to perform an almost charitable service to lonely, sad men (I'm thinking particularly of the Jewish man that she meets in the final moments of the movie), while charging them for her charity.

Really, I think this movie fascinates me because its the rare film where I know there aren't answers to all my questions, but for once I don't really mind--which takes my biggest pet peeve about movies and makes it into an overwhelming positive.