You would think that a film about a prostitute played by a twenty-one year old porn star (Sasha Grey) who can claim over one hundred and sixty-five porn films would be mildly interesting, or at least contain some racy scenes. You would be wrong on both fronts. I am not sure why the two elderly couples walked out of the theater the night that I saw the film, but I suspect it had more to do with boredom than shock.

There is some nudity in The Girlfriend Experience, but no real sex scenes.  The film begins with documentary style footage of high end paid escort Chelsea, as she reports on her encounters with various clients. These clients apparently pay for a “girlfriend experience” that can include dinner, a movie and conversation, as well as sex. Chelsea reports on the restaurant where they dined, her choice of designer apparel and the type and duration of sex shared, all with an equal lack of emotion. She is interviewed by a rather dull reporter (real life reporter Marc Jacobs). This film consists mostly of talking, and only a little talking about sex. There is more talk about money. The film alternates these scenes of Chelsea with scenes of her boyfriend Chris (Chris Santos) at the gym where he works. He also does a lot of talking.

The Girlfriend Experience is set right before the last election, and it seems that almost every scene contains a reference to the rapidly declining economy. Like much of the country at that time, all of the characters seem driven by fear about finances. This is a film about transactions, and many of them take on a desperate quality. Chris uses his relationship with his clients at the gym to try to sell them more training sessions. He asks his boss at the gym for a promotion, citing the need for more economic security. Chelsea bargains with web designers and meets with accountants in an effort to raise her rates. Chris exhibits more passion in the gym with his clients than does Chelsea with her clients. Together they face the expected problems a couple may have when one of them is a hooker. They do a lot of talking about these problems in their shared luxury apartment.

A bright spot in the film is the performance by real life film critic Glenn Kenny. He plays The Erotic Connoisseur, a reviewer of paid escorts. His scene is the creepiest and funniest in the film, as he tries to talk Chelsea into giving him a “free sample” in exchange for a good review. She agrees, but we only see the talking, and later we hear his cruel but funny review. You will hear film critics say that while Sasha Grey is not a particularly good actress, she is right for the film.  The first half of that sentence is very true. She is bland and uninteresting, and so is her character. A good actress in this part would have improved this film.

Apparently director Steven Soderbergh staffed the film with non-actors, and allowed them to improvise. This strategy worked well in Soderbergh’s low budget Bubble, which had a stronger story well suited to the likable non-professional cast. This technique is not as successful here. I am a fan of Soderbergh’s work, especially the aforementioned Bubble, Sex Lies and Videotape and more recently, The Good German.  But The Girlfriend Experience is not in the same class as those films.  

The Girlfriend Experience raises some interesting ideas about commerce and the mercenary qualities of relationships, and has a few moody and well directed scenes, especially the final one. But this is not enough to sustain the film. It does provide an insightful look at the fear and uncertainty many in the country felt during the waning months of 2008. As I watched the film, I was struck by the fact that after less than a year, people still worry about money, but have more hope than these characters. Chelsea and Chris’s desperation does not make as much sense now. Perhaps that is the most interesting thing about The Girlfriend Experience.

The Girlfriend Experience.  Directed by Steven Soderbergh. With Sasha Grey (Chelsea), Chris Santos (Chris), Glenn Kenny (Erotic Connoisseur) and Marc Jacobs (interviewer) Magnolia Pictures, 2009.

 

Gail sees a movie appears every Wednesday.

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