Chelsea (porn star Sasha Grey) is a $2,000-an-hour escort who offers
customers “the girlfriend experience” (sex, companionship, compassion).
She, her high-rolling clients and her personal-trainer boyfriend are
all feeling the pressures of the global recession (just like us
low-rollers!). Stylishly directed by Steven Soderbergh, The
Girlfriend Experience is one of the first narratives to address the
financial crisis, so it’s unfortunate it’s so alienating. It’s sad
Chelsea’s lonely clients see her pricey services as a
recession-be-damned necessity and that Chelsea’s selling an experience
her own life lacks. But it’s hard to get concerned about a woman who’s
paid handsomely to watch arty documentaries with rich guys.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2009.