Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Set in the weeks leading up to the 2008 presidential election, "The Girlfriend Experience" is five days in the life of Chelsea, an ultra high-end Manhattan call girl who offers more than sex to her clients, but companionship and conversation - "the girlfriend experience." Chelsea thinks she has her life totally under control - she feels her future is secure because she runs her own business her own way, makes $2000 an hour, and has a devoted boyfriend who accepts her lifestyle. But when you're in the business of meeting people, you never know who you're going to meet...

Soderbergh takes a break from the mainstream with this intimate look into the life of a call girl and her personal trainer boyfriend. This film feels like a solid independent, but lacks the focus of the better intimate stories we typically see from this genre. Grey does a better than expected job as the main actress, but the role calls for a certain level of detachment and at times it is hard to tell how much is intended and how much is Grey. The funky timeline of the film also distracts making the middle a bit hard to follow, but the third act straightens things out. Overall I felt a bit ambivalent to the whole thing, which is not my typical reaction to Soderbergh’s films; even his little ones.

Magnolia delivers a solid HD presentation. The film is very nicely shot with great close ups, incredible contrast and a cool demeanor. Some of the shots appear to stem from a consumer grade HD camera, but these are reserved for just a few spots. Most of the time the image is nicely detailed with great dimension and inky blacks. Colors are definitely only the cooler side and gravitate toward the icy blues and deep blacks.

The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is a nice balance of subtle ambiance and a rather striking score that sets the mood nicely. Dialogue is balanced nicely within the mix and overall the soundstage has a very open feel.

Extras include an alternate “uncut” version of the film, though I didn’t notice a whole lot of difference between the two. You also get a feature commentary from the director and lead actress and a behind the scenes look at the production.

The front cover says, “See it with someone you ****”. I imagine you can fill in the blanks. Personally, I don’t find this much of a date flick, or a **** flick. Instead it just kind of meanders on without any real purpose other than a snapshot on the drama of a high priced call girl. I was hoping for a bit more character. A rental at best.