Written By: David Levian & Brain Koppelman
Cinematography By: Steven Soderbergh (Under The Alias Peter Andrews)
Cast: Sasha Grey, Chris Santos, Philip Etyan
Chelsea is a high-priced $2,000-an-hour call girl in Manhattan, offering a 'girlfriend experience': she'll dress with the client in mind, go to dinner and a movie, listen attentively to talk about work and finances, and she'll provide sex. It's October, 2008: a presidential election nears and the economy is in free fall. She has a boyfriend, Chris who's a personal trainer. We are shown five non-consecutive days in Chelsea's life. She's working on her Web page, talking to image consultants, and being interviewed by a reporter. She asks clients when their birthdays are and uses that for an astrological prediction. She's drawn to a new client, a writer from L.A. Should she break her rules for him? What if it risks her relationship with Chris? Should she invest in gold?
This is a film I love/hate. I am truly a fan of it’s style, yet for the things I like about this film there is equally stuff that I hate.
The film seems to try to just film a characters natural habitat and follow them along their typical days and journey. While I respect Director Steven Soderbergh sometimes it feels like a chore to sit through his films. Though they play out almost like Scripted documentaries which makes them feel real and makes the film like you are being taken in personally into the situations. Here is another of his films in which he aims for nautralism more then anything else. Hence the use of non professional actors. Also using a adult film star to play a high priced escort.
I like the fact that the film is not told in chronological order. Which threw me off at first. But soon I got into the groove. The film like it’s characters looks great but comes off cold and distant. It only cracks sometimes from it’s façade to let you in. Which is why the shots are usually from long distances and away from the characters. Rarely is there a close up.
This is a film more about or at least interested in style and how the movie is made then what is on screen as this film is experimental. A little more conventional then you would think.
It’s shocking that the film is actually scripted. Though not too much considering the writers Previously wrote more plot specific scripts that were character studies to a point and usually explored the underground side of life and the characters you would find yourself surrounded by. Using lots of non actors. Here the film seemed more like set-ups and improved.
I do love the fact of seeing many shots of the beautiful actress Sasha grey in expensive outfits and various situations. She is captivating and usually stars in adult films. If you thought there would be a lot of nudity or sex your best bet would be to rent one of miss grey’s other films. As there is little to none here. There is hardly any talk about it either. It’s more the façade, act and experience of the way she lives her life. The different clients their needs. How she runs her business and trying to expand. -Which helps when most of the clients are rich businessmen but bad that this film takes place around the time of the economic crisis as her clients take a downturn. So does her success and personal life.
The ending leaves a bit of hope for connection unfortunately it’s part of the act so how truthful is it?
The scenes cross cut with the adventures of her physical trainer boyfriend.
The movie more marvels with the technological as that and skill of production then the actual story or material.
The film casts Sasha Grey which seems an experiment in itself. A untrained actress who is a professional Adult film actress. She is the one thing that transfixed me was Sasha grey. I would love to see her more in different theatrical films. Here she has more of a chance to be natural and not have to rely on what she is most famous for, but adds a little more to her character.
Plus the way the camera loves Sasha grey every angle as beautiful as the next makes her appear to be a vulnerable screen goddess.
The film gives off a polished chic look. To illustrate the world she is involved in. It is also crumbling as she is trying to expand her business when the market crashes and everyone is out of work and money. What is she to do to stay on top.
An element if a actress took the role. You would be able to separate them from the character and make the film feel false but since it strives for artistic truth it was a masterstroke casting her. She doesn’t disappoint. I know some complain about how flat her acting is. The character she plays isn’t very emotional so it actually works for the film.
The film feels like a Jean-Luc Godard as it uses the audiences desire to open them up to other issues. The film wishes to make you think you're going to get an erotic film exploring the day to day life of an escort. Though it reveals itself to be absent of any eroticism. Which you partially get, but you also get more of a point of view of the financial downturn and how excess has caused more people to examine their lives and relationships was how to affects people who were previously prosperous and what they are forced with to survive.
The film is filled with so much subtext but presenting itself simply, with a restrained style that reminds one of a jean Luc Godard film only without the blatant poetry nor barely disguised anger that some of godard's work entails. Though with the camera's worship and love affair with miss grey. I wonder was the film made or Written with her in mind or already written and once he saw her he knew she was perfect ad wanted to see her in different ways running through emotions on camera. Like Godard did with his muse and then wife Anna karina The film is experimental and feels like a experiment by cinema scientist Steven Soderbergh who always has control, but also likes to take chances and see what happens. He knows how to make a film. He just tries to express his vision on his own terms and in a unconventional way.
Like the lead the film looks beautiful and is deeper and more complicated then you thought. When you first encounter it.It's not an easy film to forget.
Most of Soderbergh's filmography fascinates me as it is obviously beautiful, varied and well shot even good but there are films that are harder for one to totally understand, get on the same wavelength and really actually like at least for me. There are the obvious studio films, but his other more independent projects are films it takes a few times viewing to really make up your mind and are films i probably don't desire to see more than once, but feel a need to dissect and understand. Not even completely, but to a degree. Maybe it's because his films seem as look and depth simple, but you can tell work and refinement went into each frame. Nothing in it is accidental. His films, his work is never too obvious. What fascinates me about this film is that it feels soulless despite being surrounded by luxury and the main female characters search for enlightenment to feel something real even if it is spiritual. As it seems the sex that is part of her job is more clinical and has deadened her passion. During acts that are supposed to be passionate and bring joy a euphoria in which to are allowed to not be in control, let loose and enjoy yourself. Sure she makes connections but she is never satisfied or seems to make her the least bit happy or fulfilled. It fascinates but i can't say you will enjoy it.
This film truly shows the life of excess and how overconfidence can lead to a downfall. -Rent if you want to watch a challenging, not necessarily entertaining work.
As you can see the film is more interesting in theory and the conversations it will inspire then the actual film. Experimental to a point. I can't say I love the film or find it necessarily entertaining, but i find myself thinking about it and coming back to it reluctantly It's like a crush you can't explain and makes you feel guilty for your feelings. Good or bad.
Grade: C
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