Bruno - Funny stuff. But I’m kind of ready for something different from Sascha Baron Cohen. I think homophobes are worthy victims of the most brutal of comedic insulting, no matter how much they use religion or uber-masculinity as an excuse. But like another Larry Charles production, Bill Maher’s Religulous, it’s preaching to the choir (amen!) without actually accomplishing much.

The Girlfriend Experience – For every bubble there is a corresponding burst. You might make a lot of money in a real estate bubble. Or you might command a decent wage from high-scale escorting because you are beautiful and willing. But without fail, the bubble will burst and you will be slammed to the dirty concrete. Because you once made a ton of money in real estate doesn’t mean you’re some sort of financial genius. It only means that you were caught up on a giant tidal wave that had its own intentions. You surfed mightily until you were spit out. And being beautiful doesn’t make you a better person either. Beauty is also a tidal wave that has a way of taking people where it wants to go. Ultimately, we are only as good as how we seem to other people.

I really liked this movie quite a bit. I suppose its relevance to the current economic downturn can seem a little heavy-handed and perhaps moralizing. But, a movie that stars a porn actress in the role of a prostitute cannot easily be criticized in that way. Along with the low budget, this movie seems well appraised in its cinematic value. Sasha Grey is quite good as the high-end escort Chelsea. Whenever I think “porn star,” I don’t often conjure up the word “beautiful.” I conjure plenty, but not often that. So, not having seen any of her, uh, previous work, I was a bit surprised at how beautiful she actually was. And, I have to admit that she charmed me in this movie. Her character was very likable and sympathetic to me, at least until learning about her astrological tendencies.

Best in Show – This movie NEVER gets old. This one, perhaps more than any other at the moment, gets quoted and/or referenced in our household on a near daily basis.