When we posted the one sheet for Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming film The Girlfriend Experience, I was pretty excited. Not only did it look like Soderbergh was playing in his sandbox again but something about the poster sucked me in. I was ready to see the movie right there and then.
Earlier today, the trailer for the film popped up on Hulu but being in Canada and all, seeing it was proving to be quite difficult until the great folks at Twitch pulled through with a version I, and a whole lot of our readers, can actually see. We already knew the film starred porn star Sasha Grey but while waiting for someone to post the trailer so that I could see it, I ended up on You Tube watching two segments of a Tyra Banks interview with Grey from 2007. The then 18 year old Grey came across as smart, business savvy, independent and above all else, a strong individual. She seemed completely in control of her life and the decisions she had made and Banks’ response was understandable but completely baffling to me. Here we have a woman who has made a name for herself essentially selling her body as a hanger (Banks) and she’s criticizing an obviously intelligent adult on her career choices? I say again: baffling.
All of this was still rolling around in my mind when I finally saw the trailer for Soderbergh’s new film and I can’t help but wonder what exactly is going on here. The film is an intimate look at the life of Christine, high-end Manhattan call girl. The trailer is fairly low-key but impressive but it’s the combination of Grey’s comments (from the interview) and the story at hand in the film that have me wondering who approached who about the project and what exactly this will say about anything. Will it be an exploration on prostitution? Will it be Grey’s crossover into mainstream films? Will it be nothing more than a button pushing exercise for sensors? I have no idea but having heard Grey talk and now having seen the trailer, I want to see this yesterday.
The Girlfriend Experience will open in limited release (boo!) on May 22nd.
UPDATED WITH A SECOND TRAILER WITH DIALOGUE!
Trailer is tucked under the seat!
FYI, on the limited release front, here are the cities in which the film is opening on May 22.
Pasadena, CA: Playhouse 7 Cinemas
San Diego, CA: Hillcrest Cinemas
San Francisco, CA: Embarcadero Center Cinema 5
Santa Cruz, CA: Nickelodeon Theatres
West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
Denver, CO: Chez Artiste
Washington, DC: E Street Cinema
Chicago, IL: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema
Edina, MN: Edina 4
University City, MO: Tivoli Theatre
New York, NY: Sunshine Cinema
Philadelphia, PA: Ritz 5 Movies
Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre
JANDY? You getting out to your local theatre to review this for us???
Andrew, you going to drive to Edina to see your favorite director??
(And Dang, I wish I was staying at the Club Quarters hotel in San Fran at that time, it’s right across the road from the Embarcadero Center. I caught Persepolis and The Diving Bell & The Butterfly back in January ’08.)
First off, I decree that Soderbergh is hereby dubbed DOCTOR Soderbergh until further notice around here.
2nd – I happen to know the manager at Edina 4. I will be there if I can keep the shit out of my pants.
This part of your post sums it up perfectly…
“…what exactly this will say about anything. Will it be an exploration on prostitution? Will it be Grey’s crossover into mainstream films? Will it be nothing more than a button pushing exercise for sensors? I have no idea but having heard Grey talk and now having seen the trailer, I want to see this yesterday.”
Hence the title of Doctor. All this guy does is dig shit out of his mind and make it happen. And make it happen well; very well. Experimental, paycheck, blockbuster, you name it. Van Sant can suck it.
Hmmmm….roadtrip to Seattle. Wonder if I can rope Colleen and Dale into this. Or maybe even husband…
Some day we’ll have to do a BIG Filmography Smackdown of Soderbergh vs. Van Sant……
That’s Doctor Soderbergh.
For the Americans out there, here’s that crisper version over at Hulu:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/68046/movie-trailers-the-girlfriend-experience
Apparently Canadians can’t see this version?
The Hulu thing was starting to drive me a bit nuts when I found your site, so thanks for sharing this Canada-friendly version! I will admit that although this trailer doesn’t really give much sense of what (if anything) the film will have to contribute to a discussion about prostitution, I’m still curious to see if it makes it to Canadian release. And, like any good sex writer, I’m interested in seeing Sasha Grey’a mainstream crossover!
Well played.
Updated post with a second trailer. Complete with dialogue.
@Andrew – thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCBZ96mVgGw
That was informative (though more for the boys than the girls). Thanks Ole.
And wow. Just realized that she has her own YouTube channel. It’s like sex education from the experts. Not sure how I feel about that. At least we know she knows what she’s talking about.
No problem Marina. also check her out in James Gunn’s PG Porn series on Spike.com
http://www.spike.com/video/roadside-ass/3101845
funny stuff.
Golly, how do I get a job as a sex writer?
Don’t worry about it Jonathan. Just remember, as the designated R3 sex symbol, EAT YOUR PINEAPPLE!
Holy shite! I totally forgot that PG Porn series. I loved the Nathan FIllion / Adrian Giovana episode, Nailing your Wife. Awesomely goofy.
Thanks Ole. I had seen that!
I’ll refrain from commenting on the sex writer/pineapple thing. It’s likely to get much dirtier than appropriate.
Looks very good.
It’s so funny how Tyra Banks can actually think she can judge someone for selling their body. Her whole career has revolved around her enormous boobs.
$2000 an hr. Only a fool would pay that kind of coin for an hr of time. Still this should be an intersting film as the subject is certainly interesting.
chuck
JUST noticed that second trailer with dialogue. Something about Soderbergh’s style and inventive ideas. Most anticipated film of the year for me so far… well, it’s close anyway.
Cool, It looks like you can get the jump on the latest Soderberg film if you have an X-Box Live Account.
Steven Soderbergh’s THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is available to rent on XBox Live (thanks to /film for the heads up.)
Not available to Canadian subscribers of XBox live. I checked. Bugger.
Quiet Earth gives “The Girlfriend Experience” a 10/10 !!!
HOLY BALLZ I can’t wait for my new Soderbergh fix (twice this year!).