The Girlfriend Experience

More a series of moments in time than having an actual plot, The Girlfriend Experience recounts a few days in the life of high-class escort, Chelsea (Sasha Grey), who offers her wealthy clientele a “surrogate girlfriend” service. She assumes the role of a temporary romantic partner, expressing an interest in the client’s life and work rather than just fucking them for money.

And that’s pretty much about it. Based on the loose synopsis by Ocean’s Thirteen writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman, The Girlfriend Experience is almost entirely improvised. Through the course of the film, Chelsea becomes sincerely attracted to one of her clients which threatens to end her relationship with her boyfriend. Against her better judgement, she visits 'The Erotic Connoisseur,' a sleazy blogger who reviews escort services, to help increase her business. The resulting review is cruel and offensive and seems to be the only thing that really bothers Chelsea, someone who has made it her living to express interest in other peoples’ lives rather than her own. The cast is primarily made up of non-actors, and while not terrible, for the most part Sasha Grey’s performance stands out as the best of the film. She’s more than convincing in her portrayal of the uncharismatic, emotionally divorced call-girl. Chelsea is cold and calculating, only letting her emotions get the best of her when confronted with the sleazy review.

There was something intriguing about The Girlfriend Experience but I’m still not entirely sure whether I liked the film or not. The problem I have with improvised films is that, for the most part, people have got fuck-all interesting to say. Everyday conversations are fucking boring, and to me, it seems idiotic to try and replicate that on-screen. Maybe it’s because I’m a misanthrope – I hate people at the best of times – but if I’ve got to fucking listen to you flapping your lips non-stop for an hour and a half I’m probably gonna stab you in the neck. However, while there are times during The Girlfriend Experience that the dialogue is jarringly awful, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It helps that, ultimately, the film is visually stunning; the central performances are good and Sasha Grey is just unfeasible hot. Like fleece-lined camel-hair underpants after a tobasco enema hot....that’s pretty fucking hot!

Steven Soderbergh takes the opportunity to try out a few different creative techniques, some of which I’m sure we’ll see in upcoming blockbusters and The Girlfriend Experience stands out as being up there with the best of his experimental work. But that’s kind of like being the most attractive waitress down your local Wimpy. Being the best doesn't mean you're great. I can’t help feeling like the film is relying on having a “controversial” actress in leading role and for me, that isn’t enough. If you’re a fan of style over substance then you’ll definitely get something out of it because it does look stunning, everyone else will wonder what all the fuss is about.

It's not Grand Theft Anal but it's watchable out of 5.