Soderbergh's Girlfriend Is Like No Other

THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE (2009)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience" is made in the same vein as one of his lesser-known efforts, "Bubble," with an overall emphasis on a gloomy mood and tone. This is the type of tonal piece that can frustrate many but not me: it is an exemplary work made by a director who plays with the form and never loses sight of content. 

Okay, sounds like a snore-inducing art-house picture, you say? Not so. "The Girlfriend Experience" is about a female escort named Chelsea (Sasha Grey), who employs the "girlfriend experience" by pretending to be sincere, a listener and, perhaps, feign being in love with her client. Not only that, she has to embody the girl-next-door look, classy but not too sophisticated, and certainly listen, listen, listen (sex sometimes follows). The men she employs this fantasy to are Wall Street-types or entrepreneurs dressed in business suits - they make up most of her clientele. There are exceptions (such as the Hassidic Jew who hopes Chelsea will vote for McCain) but the men all practically look alike, and profusely state everything that is wrong with the economy during the early stages of the economic collapse of 2008. And any film that mentions the wonderful documentary, "Man on Wire," (which Chelsea and a date go to see) can't be bad at all.

I do not dare give away much more because the film is done in a deliberate style of soft, muted tones, both in its DV-look and the way the characters speak. The film is sexy without resorting to one nude scene of boinking after another. For some, it may seem like the sleaze one can find on Cinemax but Soderbergh has not really made that kind of film either - there is, as I said, no sex scenes. 

But something curious happens to Chelsea, as she slowly and subtly sees a life where being an escort is no longer a reality. That would also mean leaving her 18-month relationship with her boyfriend (Chris Santos), a physical trainer, whom she lives with. And sneakily, without calling attention to itself, a certain amount of suspense is generated and we wonder what will be Chelsea's decision. Is she dejected or unhappy with her station in life? Does she see an avenue she can cross to a whole other life?  

"The Girlfriend Experience" is an elongated mood piece designed by Soderbergh to show that he can keep us glued to the screen without resorting to parlor tricks and fancy camera moves, as in his "Ocean's" films or "Out of Sight." "Girlfriend Experience" stands more in line with his underappreciated and highly underrated "Bubble," which is nothing short of a minor masterpiece. With his ever impressive resume, Steven Soderbergh has scored another direct hit and has given Sasha Grey, a former porn star, the platform for a purposely inexpressive and yet haunting performance.