Sundance Review: ‘The Girlfriend Experience’

There was all sorts of buzz going around about Steven Soderbergh showing his newest masterpiece ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ and I was a little hesitant to believe this was even a possibility. I went ahead and submitted a request to get tickets for the event thinking that at the very least I would get to see some clips and hear one of the greatest directors working right now talk about the flick.

When we got there it was as packed as I have seen anything here at Sundance. We got in our seats and Soderbergh came out and started talking about why everyone thought he would be showing the movie. Then he says “the only reason I know of that people think I am showing the movie… is because I really am showing it tonight”, and the crowd erupted. He mentioned that the movie is still in the works and it was a pretty rough cut, but we would get an idea of where he is going with it.

The movie didn’t seem rough at all, it looked very complete. I walked out of the theater thinking that this movie was brilliant, and I am not sure how he can improve on it anymore than he already has.

Essentially the story follows a high priced hooker played by porn star Sasha Grey, who provides he clients with what they call “the girlfriend experience”. Essentially it means that instead of just sex, they go out on dates, talk about things, kiss, and do all things that you and your girlfriend would do… except in the morning you have to pay her… a lot.

The main gist of the story is that she is trying to build her business up, and figuring out ways to do this all the while sustaining a real relationship with her boyfriend.

I am probably not even supposed to be talking about this movie so I wont go into any more plot than that but let me tell you, this could be my favorite Soderbergh work. It is magnificently brilliant and I cannot wait to see what the finished movie will look like.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5