The Girlfriend Experience
For his second low-budget experiment from Magnolia & 2929 Entertainment- after his 2006 jewel “Bubble”- Steven Soderbergh swings further for the fences. How can he go further than a blue-collar story with real people in the main roles, which is what he had in “Bubble?” How ’bout by casting bona fide porn star Sasha Grey in the central role.
Grey has gained notoriety in the adult industry and beyond by being unafraid to push the limits. She’s starred in over 200 films since she turned 18. But don’t expect too much skin in “The Girlfriend Experience,” which was written by Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s 13” scribes Brian Koppelman and David Levien (who also wrote the 1998 card-playing gem “Rounders”).
This time out, Soderbergh is on the other end of the economic spectrum from “Bubble” in following Chelsea (Grey), a high-class call girl who is trying to expand her clientele and juggle her professional obligations with her personal life with her boyfriend, who’s understanding of her lifestyle but worries at times.
The title refers to the type of arrangement that’s available where the prostitute will simulate a more emotional connection with the client. Sex can be part of the equation, but it’s secondary towards having a more personal connection.
The film is set in October 2008, when the Presidential election was heating up and the economy was in the shitter. But while anxiety about the financial strain, it’s the personal stuff that supersedes the professional for Soderbergh and Grey (whose interests in film goes beyond the truths about her chosen profession). Despite her trade, Chelsea does have a sense of what she will and won’t do for the sake of her career. For instance, when an online reviewer wants to trade sex for a good review. But when an out-of-town client invites her away for the weekend, things are strained between her and her boyfriend of a year and a half Chris, who have an agreement on such things.
Soderbergh’s storytelling has grown bolder and more finessed over the years. I still haven’t watched last year’s “Che,” but on the strength of this year’s provocative double-bill of this film and “The Informant!,” Soderbergh may have some pretentiousness in his approach (in that way, he’s most comparable to Kubrick, who never made the same film twice), but he’s also got the same sense of what audiences want that another Steven- Spielberg- has shown over the years. He knows what an audience wants to see, and knows how to give it to them in an entertaining way.
In that respect, his collaboration here with Grey strikes of inspiration. A top-flight actress she isn’t…yet. But Soderbergh clearly saw something in her that made him trust her with the material, and he lets us see it to by keeping things focused in on her. And Grey thrives under the Oscar-winner’s directorial eye, making us genuinely care about Chelsea and the struggles she’s going through. Who knew such different “artists” could be so perfect for one another?
