Search - This Girl's Life (Unrated Version) on DVD

Lousy DVD from Hart Sharp Video

dooby | 03/01/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This review refers to the uncut DVD version. Like the other reviewers here, I loved this movie. The movie I would rate as 5 stars and it is indeed a stunning debut for the as yet unknown actress Juliette Marquis (from Ukraine no less). The image quality is not stellar as this was shot on digital video. I can undertand and accept that. This DVD however is a lousy Pan and Scan version. Some movies can be Pan and Scanned relatively unscathed because their photographers deliberately shoot them with future TV transfers in mind. But this movie was shot by someone who makes full use of the widescreen aspect and didn't make room for transfer to fullscreen TV. It is intensely frustrating to watch this damned DVD. You watch noses talking to half faces, half faces talking to ears, heads bobbing in and out of frame repeatedly. I am furious at the studio a__holes at Hart Sharp Video who sanctioned this Pan and Scan monstrosity. And they had the temerity to advertise on the back cover that it is in widescreen. To add insult to injury, they show pictures on the back cover and the insert, of screenshots in the original widescreen where you can compare the beautiful original compostion and the Pan and Scan cropped crap. Hart Sharp Video goes straight to my list of Never Buy From Again. By all means see this movie - at the theater. Or wait till a more responsible company releases a new DVD edition."

More than Meets the Eye

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 01/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THIS GIRL'S LIFE is a surprise little Indie that is well worth watching. In a style not unlike a documentary Moon (Juliette Marquis, an impressive newcomer) shows us around a mini-camera rich home where she makes porn movies under the direction of Aronson (Tomas Arana), introduces her fellow porn stars and her friends (including Rosario Dawson as Martine), and ultimately brings us into her home life (she takes care of her Pops - James Woods - who suffers from Parkinson's Disease) and her past, including her reasons for entering into the porn star business.

Along the way she meets an ordinary guy Kip (Kip Pardue) who suggests that Moon may be ready for a relationship. Moon's friends gradually introduce her to a new role of 'sex investigator', using her seductive powers to test their boyfriends' or husbands' fidelity. One of these adventures results in an encounter with one Terry (Michael Rappaport) who has abusive issues that alter Moon's perception of her role.

How Moon deals with the new direction her life is taking provides the climax of this film. The movie is sparked by some very fine performances not only by Juliette Marquis, but also by James Woods, Kip Pardue, Ioan Grufford (Lancelot in KING ARTHUR), Rosario Dawson, and Tomas Arana. THIS GIRL'S LIFE is an inside look at a thriving business that deserves this kind of examination. Grady Harp, January 2005"

Revealing look at the adult film/webcam industry

thedarkpoet | 09/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i guess boogie nights opened the floodgates for these types of films, and some of them are actually worth checking out. i have to admit that i watched this movie while writing poetry and didn't really focus on it, but i got the whole reincarnation/transformation while living message, and i have to give kudos to ash for not pulling any punches with the sex, the scene at the opening of the film in which moon is getting banged from behind by some ananymous wasp hairy chested porn star was ballsy and realistic.... and all the more impressive is the fact that she delivered a monologue during the sex, wearing a cheesy blonde wig to boot. the kip pardue as himself thing was also clever... he was hilarious in rules of attraction... and he and moon made an attractive and realistic couple. definitely a dvd worth owning, and i expect hours of commentary by the director on the research and execution(i would love to know how many takes it took before moon could keep a straight face during the aforementioned blonde wig doggy style scene)bottom line... solid performances, realistic slice of the seedy side of porn.... and definitely pick this up if you are a fan of boogie nights, rated x, and films of that ilk, or if you have any curiousity about the sex industry in general.
"

Really good although all over the place at times

Dorrie Wheeler | 01/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This film is about a young porn star who of course had tragedy in her life. When she was 12 her mother committed suicide. After her mothers death her father has a break down and later develops Parkinson's Disease. At 18 she enters the porn industry and fast forward several years later she seems quite happy with her voyeristic life. She juggles being a porn star with caring for her dad and hanging out with her crew of porn star friends and every day girls like her lifelong friend played by Rosario Dawson who is a law student and another friend who is a teacher. I really enjoyed this film but couldn't help but feel like the actress who portrayed Moon was doing her best Angelina Jolie impersonation, I mean she had Angelina down pat. James Wood deserves an Oscar for his role as the dad who has seen himself go down. I enjoyed this film, but like many other films I was frustrated with the story at times. It seemed to be all over the place sometimes. I never knew if the love story between Moon and her blind date was going anywhere, then we see Mon venture off into a new business, then the porn stars find themselves in mini-crisis'. Although it was all over the place at times, it was a great little indy film, the best indy film I have seen since "Secretary.""