"The Girlfriend Experience" marks the second film that 2929 Entertainment partners Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner financed, after "Bubble", in their six-picture deal with Steven Soderbergh to direct low-budges films that would be released simultaneously in theaters, on cable, and on DVD. However, I wish more studios could strike such deals to produce quality indie fair as Steven Soderbergh talents seems more suited for the arthouse than the mainstream. I enjoyed "TGE" immensely for what it had to say about relationships and pereception and the idea of how everything is a transaction of some kind. I have to admit that I have not seen any of Sasha Grey's "talents" but she pulls a good turn here in her first mainstream movie where oddly enough, the concept is sex but she is not required to engage in any onscreen. In fact, it is this casting choice that transcends "TGE" from stricly arthouse fair as life begins to immitate life and vice versa. A former porn star who is use to being naked who goes straight and portrays an escort who emotionally stands bare before the lense. I saw this film at the Landmark theatres on Pico and I would have to say, that its good to see that place thriving as a key destination for independent flicks. In fact, Sasha Grey even did a Q and A after the flick and it was fascinating hearing her talk about the duality of having a life and relationships while still in the porn industry and how the movie takes a stab at metaphorically visualizing this fact. The movie is by no means an autobiography of her life and I don't believe that Ms. Grey's performance is groundbreaking as much as introspective. But for a young actress she displays a keen amount of control and focus. Pulling off the puzzle expertly as she desperately holds on to the mask that shields her from the ugly realities of her own making.
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