Review of The Girlfriend Experience (2009) by Kyle C — 01 Jan 2011

Soderbergh's usual experimental expertise seems to have dried up. A strikingly beautiful film, breathtaking to watch; I think I see a bit of Antonioni in there. What is an engaging visual trip, however, is also a listless mundane journey into a terrible lack of emotionality.

For the areas encompassed in the film I would expect somewhat to see a more vivid account of said business; it is not that you don't feel somewhat connected to the characters, but the relationship dynamics seem almost too superficial.

There is a line, I suppose in experimental film that you can cross, in the sense that, experimental now becomes 'boring and disengaging', and this is that line. Much opportunity lay on the table, and yet not a hand moved to pick it up.