Review of The Girlfriend Experience (2009) by Casey B — 03 Jan 2010

This movie definitely shows Soderbergh's experimental side, as there isn't much of a linear narrative, and instead there are a series of clips that go back and forth in time. With that said, I enjoyed Soderbergh's approach. The fragments of clips and repetition, along with the occasional Sasha Grey voiceover, reminded me of how we remember, or dream. The way they're structured is ultimately satisfying as a story, particularly the last 15 minutes of the film.

I found Grey oddly compelling in the movie. I think that's a testament to Soderbergh's directing, because I checked out some of her better known work after watching this and she mostly seems flat and bored... One issue I did have with this movie is that we don't really get to see Grey's character when she isn't with, or talking or thinking about, her clients. She seems interesting, what does she do on her day off? I don't think this movie even passes the Bechdel test - the one time we see Grey talking to a woman, she's still talking about her business, which is relationships with men.

I enjoyed this film. It captured perfectly the late 2008 anxieties about politics and the economy. It raises delicate questions about relationships and money, and I honestly think it is a long metaphor for being a director in Hollywood. And despite being a movie about an escort starring a porn actress, it is very beautiful and tasteful.