Pick of the Day: The Girlfriend Experience

I'm not sure how relevant it is to the plot, but this film by Steven Soderbergh is set in the weeks leading up to the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Its stars real-life adult film star Sasha Grey as a $2000 an hour Manhattan call girl named Chelsea who, as the film's title implies, offers clients more than just sex.

I haven't done any research on this, but whereas some men who pay women for sexual services probably get off on the idea of power-tripping on them, other men might feel a certain amount of shame at what they have been reduced to doing, and desperately crave the illusion of love and intimacy.

That's what Chelsea gives her clients -- sort of. All is well, even her boyfriend is semi-cool with what she does, until Chelsea finds herself falling for a new client named Barack. No, not really. The client's name is Philip. Although given the time period in which the movie is set, it might possibly be read as an allegory on the corrupt nature of modern politics and the illusion of principled leadership and civic dedication that politicians profess to provide. Or not. I'd have to see the film, which screens tonight at the RPL Theatre at 7 p.m., to be sure.

Here's the trailer. (YouTube)