Directed by Steven Soderbergh
One of the most interesting things about this scripted drama which is filmed like a documentary is that, in real life, the actors are very close to the characters they play. This is the first mainstream film for Sasha Grey who plays Chelsea, an exclusive Manhattan call girl. As well as being Penthouse Pet of the Month in 2007, she has starred in more than 80 porn films and won several awards including awards for Best Oral Sex Scene, Best Group Sex Scene and Best Three-Way Sex Scene. With a CV that states ‘she has a huge appetite of sex and self-exploration’, she is highly qualified to play someone who charges $2000 an hour to be a devoted companion.
Chris Santos takes on the role of Chelsea’s boyfriend Chris. In real life he is a triathlete and personal trainer, and in the film he is a personal trainer who is trying to optimise his earnings at a time when the financial situation in the US is tightening in the lead up to the 2008 presidential election. Then there is the unnamed interviewer played by Mark Jacobson who has been a journalist for over thirty-five years. His role in the film is to interview Chelsea for an article, but he ends up being rather pivotal to how the audience sees the characters. Glenn Kenny, who is a senior editor and film critic for Premiere magazine takes on the sleazy role of The Erotic Connoisseur who wants to taste the goods he is reviewing.
This is very low budget film from the director of ‘Sex, Lies and Videotapes’ is shot in a very intimate style and poses many interesting questions. It is one of those films that you need to see with friends so that you can have some heated discussion afterwards.
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