SODERBERGH'S FASCINATING, CHILLING "THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE"

"See it with someone you ****", suggests the tagline for "The Girlfriend Experience", Steven Soderbergh's latest film. I'd amend that to "See it with anyone willing to accompany you." In other words, just don't see the movie alone. The film is one of those strange projects that winds up being theoretically rich (ie, fascinating to discuss) but experientially poor (ie, painful to watch). A post-viewing conversation partner goes a long way toward making the film palatable.

Shot in two weeks for less than $2m, the film is a snapshot of sorts. It focuses tightly on a particular moment experienced by a particular milieu in Manhattan; a time when the election was weeks away and the economy was just beginning to show fissures. The world of "The Girlfriend Experience" is one of private planes, elaborate light fixtures and gyms that resemble five-star hotels. Technically, the film takes place a few months ago; emotionally, it seems light-years away.

Chelsea, a high-class escort, is the central figure of the film. Played by Sasha Grey, an adult film star, she's beautiful but uninteresting, helped little by a bare-bones script and slight plot. Reviews of the film have concentrated mostly on Grey's inscrutability and whether or not her performance succeeds as a result. The actress is inexpressive in every way: her face is unmoving, her body language stiff, her voice unmodulated and her improvisations dull. Depending on your inclinations and mood, Grey can come across as mysterious, withholding, brainless or poised. She is confounding mostly because she does not emote, and whether this is a refusal or an inability depends, again, on the beholder.

Often it's a refreshing quality. Although Chelsea's character can feel frustrating and unworthy of scrutiny, the fact remains that she demands it. "The Girlfriend Experience" is a cold cinematic experience, with muted visuals and semi-happy characters all devoted solely to the pursuit of money. If Soderbergh was aiming to capture a moment, he nailed it. It's just a moment that feels mercifully remote.