User reviews

I like James Woods, and I thought his performance in this film as a father with Parkinson's was outstanding. The lead, Juliette Marquis, is fairly new, and also did a great job. I was really touched watching her stop her life at times to care for her father, ass-wiping and all.

Rosario Dawson made a couple of brief appearances talking about the porn life, and gave some brilliant comments.

This is not really a "porn" movie, but a drama shot in documentary style showing the life of someone in the internet porn business. Even leaving has consequences as Michael Rapaport suspiciously shows up just as she was walking out; and he was not a happy man. I wonder who tipped him off? It was a good story and worth the time.

Ebert and Roeper gave this two thumbs up and were very impressed with the lead actress. On that basis I rented the video. This was an interesting film in that it portrayed a likable individual with some good (but often indirect) character development as the porn star. Although there were semi-graphic sexual scenes, they were not gratuitous and were integral to the development of the story.

I found myself generally interested in most of the primary characters. The film presented them with enough depth to make them intriguing. I have not seen any other films depicting the porn industry and its stars that I can think of, so I can't compare it to "the competition." I actually know a few people who have worked in this industry, and felt the characters depicted were consistent with the people I know.

The lead actress did give a credible performance. I was interested in how her life evolved on screen, in the decisions she made, etc. She was also quite attractive which helped maintain the interest.

At the end I found I was questioning myself as to whether I truly enjoyed the film or not. In some ways it exceeded my expectations, but I didn't feel it lived up to E & R's highly positive review.

In fact, "This Girl's Life" seems to be two movies: first, it works over the relationships of internet pornstar Moon and the world around her - this part is truly great, with very well-constructed characters (specially Moon herself and her ill father, played by James Woods) and cleverly avoiding making judgements about anything; the second, which comes up on the final third of the movie, is clearly weaker, more moralist and somehow desconstructing the characters so wonderfully built on the first part.

All in all, a movie that deserves to be seen... but it's just a shame that the end isn't just a bit less "common"...

This Girl's Life is the story of a not so average porn star and her not so average life. She makes it known right off the bat that she has not been abused by her father, uncle or priest and she is not on drugs or any of the other things you hear about your average porn star. In fact, she seems to be a very well adjusted young woman who has about 99% of her priorities in line. This is the story of Moon, played by a positively ravishing Juliette Marquis.

Moon's mother died in a car accident when she was young and takes care of her father who has Parkinson's Disease and is willing to drop anything she is doing if he needs her. She even meets a guy that seems to suit her on a blind date while she struggles with wondering whether or not he was told what she does for a living and if that is in fact, the reason he is there. He turns out to be a decent guy and it seems Moon has everything going in the right direction for her. She just happens to be a porn star.

There are hardly any negative characters in this movie. For the most part, everyone gets along and is likable to the viewer. The character development could have been a bit better. I knew who everyone was but did not know most of the names. Maybe I should pay closer attention but I had to figure out most of the character names from this site. Moon shows no attitude of being a successful porn star and even her boss, Aronson (played by Tomas Arana) was a likable guy. Later in the movie, a friend of Moon's asks her to hit on her boyfriend to see if he would cheat on her if given the opportunity and you get a few unlikeable characters once this happens (good job by Michael Rapaport). This is also where the movie takes a bit of a darker turn, but nothing huge.

Juliette Marquis is a very good actress who has the looks and talent to become the next big thing in Hollywood. I believe she just needs her "big break". I truly hope to see big things come of her.

James Woods was Pops, the Parkison's ridden father, who played that part to a tee. I compare his performance here to Edward Norton's in The Score. Woods proves he is an incredible actor.

All in all, I could give this movie pretty high recommendations. The ending was a bit anti-climatic and I was a little let down by it, but the rest of the movie makes up for it. This is the first movie I have seen by director, Ash, and I will make it a point to see more of his movies. 8/10

The porn star Moon (Juliette Marquis) spends her time working, nursing her widowed father (James Woods) that has Parkinson disease and with her friends Jessie (Kam Heskin) and Martine (Rosario Dawson). Her boss Aronson (*Tomas Arana) gives a new contract to Moon to be signed. Moon has a blind date with Jessie's friend Kip (Kip Pardue) and they feel a great attraction for each other. When Jessie asks Moon to test the fidelity of her boy-friend, Moon decides to offer the service to other customers. But when she meets the dangerous Terry (Michael Rapaport), she reevaluates her life and her relationship with Skip.

"This Girl's Life" is an underrated movie that follows the pattern of Ken Russell's "Whore", with the lead actress talking to the camera like in a documentary. This is the first work that I have seen from the director Ash and the gorgeous actress Juliette Marquis and I liked what I have seen. The story begins with frontal male nude (I do not like to see penis wherever) but in a perfect timing and insertion in the context. James Woods proves again that he is one of the most underrated actor in Hollywood, with an amazing performance of a man with Parkinson disease. But the star of this movie is the unknown and extremely sexy and gorgeous Juliette Marquis that has a magnificent performance in the role of a porn star. Her body is astonishing, her eyes and face are impressively beautiful and she can act with a stunning performance! I am looking forward to have a chance to see her again. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Maiores de 18" ("Greater than 18" literally, meaning "Rated-18")

I liked this film, mainly because of it's "real life" feeling. It plays out almost like a documentary. It is populated by real people who have real problems in real situations. I think Ebert says all about this film in just one phrase: '"This Girl's Life" is an imperfect movie with so many moments of truth that you forgive its stumbles.'

That's about it, this is a very realistic, believable film with a couple of excellent performances by Juliette Marquis and James Woods. The Direction by Ash (who has also written and produced this movie) is also worthy of mention.

Definitely worth watching!

A 'slice of life' of a web-porn star who acts like so has it all together. She juggles a career in porn, caring for her Parkinson stricken father, and later a side job as a sex investigator. Why oh why is this film getting praised?? It's OK, but nothing special. I really do think all the people who absolutely fawn over this film are blinded by Juliette Marquis's beauty (I admit she IS stunning), but that is hardly enough to life this made for cable flick up from the mediocrity of being merely average.. James Woods is pretty much always great, however here he's a bit wasted. And to top it all off it get SO bad towards the end.

My Grade: C

Eye Candy: Sung Hi Lee shows breasts; both Cheyenne Silver and Juliette Marquis shows boobs, bush, and buns

For the ladies: 5 peni (the plural of penis)

After the success of the inexpensively made trade movie "Boogie Nights," one might expect a series of even cheaper and less skillful ripoffs. The usual trajectory for ripoffs would be more sex and less character.

I suppose in some ways, we wouldn't have "This Girl's Life" if we hadn't had "Boogie Nights," but this film is actually pretty good. If the earlier film was mostly an ensemble effort, this one depends on Juliette Marquis. We see things almost exclusively from her point of view. She's a porn star with a heart of gold and some brains. It sounds like a cliché, but she pulls it off okay. She's not exactly beautiful but she is sexy and exotic and has a nasal voice that sometimes drops into the lower register.

But Marquis gets surprisingly good support from such mainstream players as Rosario Dawson, and adequate support from Cheyenne Silver, a genuine star of sex films who has a fresh-faced attractiveness that suggests she grew up on a farm and fed on nothing but cream and ripe strawberries. Anyone who wants to see what she looks like all over can easily have his curiosity satisfied with a bit of effort.

James Woods is super as Pops, Marquis' father who is stricken with Parksinson's disease. He's a courageous actor, wandering around in public with what seems to be an enormous head and a shrunken flabby body. The only investment of ego on display is his talent.

If "Boogie Nights" showed us that the sex movie industry of the 1970s was like a family, "This Girl's Life" demonstrates that the family is not entirely functional these days. The head of the studio keeps carrying on paternally about how we are all one big -- incestuous -- family, but when he wants one of his girls to do something that she does not want to do, he prompts her to do a line of coke and shoves her roughly against a wall. Spare the rod and spoil the child, you know.

The director has Marquis talk directly to the camera on several occasions, as if this were a reality TV show. She shows us how a microvideocamera works, a "spy camera" like that used in police and FBI stings. And there are times when scenes appear as if shot with one of those tiny cameras, all fuzzy and with horizontal lines. Not sure what the point of that was. And I'm not sure what happens to Pop either. His case seems to be hanging in the air at the end when, after a violent encounter with a man whose life Marquis has just professionally put an end to, she takes off with her naive young monogamous lover.

I assume -- I HOPE -- that she finally got back to taking care of Pops, because his disorder is rather advanced and it would take him an hour to peel a banana.

In any case, the very amateurishness of some of the performances contributes to the documentary feel of the film, but it's a documentary that is emotionally charged.

A surprise, well worth watching.

The plot: An internet porn-star and her relationship with the world. Doesn't sound that bad, but unfortunately the film doesn't exactly know what he wants to be. A drama? Hm, why is the lead character smiling all the time then? A comedy? No, therefore it's too dramatic. And yes, James Woods is really placed wrong here. The movie has no really interesting or even surprising turning points, no good acting or thrilling music. There seems to be only one thing, that keeps some folks go for it, and that's the fact that this story contains the words porn-star, which indicates some nudity (which you can actually see, at least in an uncut version).

I rented this film initial because I heard that this film handled the adult film industry as it exists, stripping away the fantasy and negative exploitative stigma that many previous films portrayed. I also heard James Woods gave a great performance in this film not to mention the thought that I may get to see some very attractive eye candy. And in all accounts I was right. James Woods does a knock out job in this movie and yes you get to see some very attractive naked girls. Not to mention a male full Monty scene that really goes all the way. I know it sounds like a cheesy two bit soft core film, but the story moves fast and the portrayal of a porn star is shown with insight and strength. The film is really about finding yourself and personal growth. The film did a great job of acknowledging its subject and dealt with it as it is; a business. The lead actress was also very strong, which is unusual for a film like this. The nudity may be sexual in nature but isn't really meant to be erotic. The nudity is used to add to the story and is never used unless it has a purpose. Where many films have attempted this, this movie that no one has seen or heard of, did a great job with handling this subject. Well written and interesting, 4 Stars! If you really want to see a good film that deals with the adult industry as it exists, I highly recommend this film.

With her beauty and intelligence it should be easy for Moon (Juliette Marquis) to enjoy a successful career, have plenty of friends and find true love, even if she is burdened by her handicapped father. While her sex appeal is a valuable asset, so many of the men she meets are selfish, dishonest, and abusive. Can we expect them to want anything other than money or sex from a porn star? What begins as Moon's personal narrative of this brief period in her life gradually becomes a psychological drama, providing a cynical and somewhat realistic perspective on the modern sex culture; wanton sex, deception, and sexually transmitted diseases. James Woods (Pops) adds a fair dose of slapstick comedy and vulgar humor.

I gave this movie a 7. Juliette Marquis is above average in both the sex appeal and acting skill categories; a combination that is hard to find. James Woods does an impressive impersonation of a Parkinson's patient, and the supporting actors are good enough to sell what to me is a relatively novel story that is a little too far fetched and biased.

The take home message seems to be that women are honest and hardworking, while men get what they want by lying, cheating and, if need be, through brute force. Overall, women are smarter and more capable but, fortunately for men, they are also caring and compassionate; otherwise, who would be there to wipe a pathetic helpless man's ass? I guess it's not too surprising that this movie is especially popular among teenage girls.

I saw the movie and was a little impressed but not really satisfied. When I first saw the movie I thought it was going to be one of those softcore porn like movies on cinemax. But it really shocked me to find all those hot actors and actresses playing along.James Woods,Isaiah Washington, and especially my favorite Rosario Dawson! The movie is about a famous porn actress named,Moon, who is the main character and narrator of the movie. She tells about her life as a porn star and how it affects her while caring for her ill fated father,James Woods.Not to mention some other problems that begin to develop in the process. After all it wasn't something really to talk about. Just an exciting to see some of the sex scenes.And I just thought it was pretty cool that all the hot stars participated.

I thought this movie would probably be the turkey of the three that I rented one evening. Instead, it was the best one. The sex was not overdone or gratuitous, and certain of the characters were nicely drawn out. I wasn't all that impressed with James Woods, but then again, I seldom am. Before any movie that he's in is over, I'm tired of the guy, even if he started out as interesting. An exception was the flick where he played the newspaper editor with Clint Eastwood as the washed-up reporter. As I recall, he didn't begin to wallow in himself like he usually does. In this movie, the scene at his birthday party where he goes on and on about "taking a s***" was the one that turned me off. I mean, how many times do you have to say that to try and shock the pretty girls, Woods? I give him a chance because he went to medical school before turning to acting, so he ain't dumb, but I just don't like him much.

The standout performance in this movie was clearly from Michael Rappaport as the car dealer. God, what a creep and what a frigging psycho! He was so weird and so convincing that he didn't seem to be acting at all. It was bad enough the first time Moon encountered him. You could just tell that sick freak was gonna turn ugly on her the way he was grabbing her and slobbering all over her with that disgusting tongue of his. She should have made her escape QUICKLY, not dawdling around like that, which is why he caught up with her. She was lucky to get away, and then he showed up again, obviously ready to kill her. He must be a nut in real life. He was just too violent and scary to be acting. You know how some of those guys with red hair can be. Yup, you're one hell of an actor, Michael, you frigging nutjob!

I liked the way the porn producer turned out to be a real scumbag. He was always pretending to be so nice and so concerned about his girls, unless they refused to do what he wanted, like making that black girl pull a train with 20 guys. When Moon refused to renew her contract, he issued a thinly-veiled threat against her, too. It probably wasn't a coincidence that the car dealer found and attacked her right outside his studio a few moments after she quit.

I found the comments about the movie and the porn industry made by Rosario Dawson to be very interesting. It is uncommon for a woman to be both beautiful and so intelligent and articulate, while intelligent actresses are extremely rare.

How can you go wrong with the supporting cast? James Woods' portrayal as leading character's-Moon-father afflicted with Parkinson's, Michael Rappaport, Tomas Arana, etc.? C'mon. The film was about a woman's journey through her brief career of porn, but the real story was the great interaction between her and her father, whom she really has a love and compassion for. the plot summary says it's a "Slice of life take on life of international porn celebrity, Moon, and her musings on modern life, love and loss", but I didn't feel her "huge" or "international" success while watching. Yeah, the plot wandered, but you could follow it and enjoy it, too. The dialogue and the feel of the movie is believable. The only thing I did not like was Kip Pardue's character. Real name- Kevin Ian Pardue. Get it? It's an acronym, and clever as Christopher Grace calling himself by half his name-Topher Grace. Anyway, Pardue has not matured yet and I only recall him in Remember the Titans as a high-schooler and he still looks like one. Supposedly he'll be 30 years old in September '06??? But Pardue is a boy and he may never achieve believable adult roles with that baby face goofiness. Trying to cast him as a credible "man" in any film, especially this one, does not work. And giving his blind date character an upscale dwelling and some feel good lines made me anxious for the scenes to end. Yeah, let's give the pizza delivery boy a pimp crib and inject him with empathy and compassion, yeah that'll work. And I love it when actors portray characters who are given their same name in the movie, like he was-how embarrassing! News Flash to Hollywood-Kip Pardue is the 21st century's Anthony Michael Hall, who went from Russ Griswold, to bully in Edward Scissorhands, to Dead Zone retreads. Okay, Hall was also a cog in The Breakfast Club and Weird Science wheel of fortune. But cute actor boys have a short expiration date, and pretty much never go one to be leading men. Other than that inescapable distraction, this movie was entertaining. Another reviewer from Argentina commented this was the director, Ashley Baron Cohen's "best movie to date." I'm sorry, who? Umm, as if this guy is Coppolla or Scorcese or something? Oh, and the DVD extras like the interviews with Juliette Marquis were long and boring. She came across disturbing and twitchy. I liked her acting better than her real self. But I must say that Marquis resembles Angelina Jolie, except MUCH more beautiful and sensually innocent. Those eyes are so, so, je ne sais quois. The other interview was with Rosario Dawson and she comes across like a dork and had nothing of interest to say. Too bad she agreed to be droopy and naked in the tent scene with Colin Farrell in Alexander, but stayed clothed in this movie. Shrewd career decision, Rosario. The extra interviews should have included James Woods, who probably said no. Or why not some of the other girls who were real stripper/porn actresses playing the porn actresses in the movie? Instead we only get Marquis, Dawson, and a promo ad for Parkinson's Disease?

Has no one in Hollywood a vehicle for James Wood? This is tragic, awful, self-conscious soft-porn. Heart of gold, med student, the whole painful project is an ordeal to watch...and I was unable to go beyond a half hour, I confess.

JW: my heart breaks to see what you have cast before salacious trotters. If I were a producer, I'd hire you in a hearbeat. I know you can still menace, can still show depth, can still out-act the handsome rockjaws and the grotesque Brody's every bit as well as Rush or F.Murray ....

No one will see your fine work here- and I'm sure you know that too. God bless, -A Fan

When projects as ambiguous as "This Girl's Life" arrive, we have to be objective enough to write about them, due to the fact of not being used to them. Ash, put everything in his project, and if he didn't get all the stuff he wanted, he got a big part.

It's not everyday that a character stands to tell us, or at least, to tell the camera everything she dos, being the character a porn star. That's how Moon (Juliette Marquis) tells it; the character that carries with the plot of the movie, and is the "Mohammed Ali" of porn. Was she violated when young? No. ¿She didn't go to school? Least, she was between the best of her class. People encounter her and notice a class y beauty different to the stereotyped women that do her job.

"I tried because of curiosity", Moon explains Kip (Kip Pardue) in their first date. Kip had found her attractive and even when he didn't know that little detail, he succumbs into a fascination that leads to an intelligent and mature conversation between two persons that have an obvious chemistry to form a couple. So the cell phone rings; it's Pops (James Woods), who has Parkinson's, and Moon lives for him.

The latter mentioned conversation and other peculiar situations are showings of the good screenplay that Ash has constructed. In the same we presence the movement of the porn industry (remember "Boogie Nights"), with its Oscars and promotions. The script seems to have knowledge in that matter, which is good enough, added up to uncountable meetings between people, a satisfying visual style and an interesting, if not adequate music.

Besides all this, that doesn't expect much from anyone, the real talent of Ash seems to shine in the direction of his cast. Mainly the sparkling Juliette Marquis, owner of an unexploited talent we'll see soon, and of a body language with intense complexity. I also mention the fact that her performance makes us love a character that isn't exactly what we could call lovable. In addition, we get Kip Pardue in his best performance to date, proving again he is actually an actor. James Woods is lucid and intense in a role that is easy to play; but he doesn't care if it is easy…He takes it to its highest level.

The rest of the cast includes fine performances all the way from Rosario Dawson (Martine), Michael Rapaport (Terry), Ioan Gruffudd (Daniel), Cheyenne Silver (Cheyenne), Isaiah Washington (Shane), Kam Heskin (Jessie) and many more.

Surprises are also included; and I wonder: What will be the next thing to come out from this twisted or maybe brilliant mind?

If Quentin Tarantino and a woman made out of horrible movies had a baby and then punched it in the head a lot...it would also hate this movie. This movie is veritable house of cards constructed of candid "insights" on life (analogies aplenty) and held together by watered down attempts at graphic shock value...also there are some cards.

James Woods' actual talent only serves to accentuate the bear-wearing-a-funny-hat that is the rest of the movie.

Also, this movie offers a rare chance to see Michael Rapaport rape someone on screen (that is, outside of a courtroom environment.) In conclusion, directors should make better movies than this and have two names.

Refreshing for its full-on, unflinching exploration of issues around sexuality. Juliette Marquise is charismatic and well cast, as are most of the characters - the garage guy and the porn boss, for instance. James Woods' role is very exposed and difficult - he has to make himself ugly and without dignity - which he does in a brave way. The treatment of sex - given that it's a film about pornography - is admirably restrained and non-gratuitous. Ash has a very individual outlook not dissimilar from his cousin Sasha Baron Cohen - saying what people think but are afraid to say, asking the questions we want to ask but dare not.

This was an awful movie. James Woods should have paid the studio to not release this film. He must have been desperate for money. It's the worst performance of his career! I can't believe anyone viewing this disaster could consider his performance "brilliant!" I was embarrassed for him! What was he thinking when he agreed to be in this horrible movie??!! I was shocked that Michael Rappaport was in this film. He's a pretty credible actor and his appearance in this movie was surprising. It was a terrible role. He must have needed the money too. The writing is so bad. Although, upon retelling some of the "plotlines" to my husband, as I recounted one of "pops" speeches, we laughed out loud. So, it may play well as a really good, bad movie for some of you. For me, a waste of time.

i watched the movie last night at a local film society in my own country.as a member of this society, i was a little bit confused about the movie if it might be full of nudity without any strong story line and acting,i thought it might be any B grade movie.so before watching this film, i collected several informations about this film from IMDb.com.and yeah, i was right. it not that type of movie that i thought.it is different like one of my favorite movie "Boogie Nights".

the story line of this movie is about a porn star named "moon"(Juliette marques).from her own point of view, we enter the inner side of porn industry, her relations with so-called modern society, her own father, friends and her values.

the script, music, direction and acting are brilliant.especially i want to mention the character "moon" in which plays a brilliant new comer actress Juliette marques. welcome her to the world cinema.her looking, ways of facial expressions and acting are very normal that could be very plus point for her acting career. and i like James woods also for playing the character "pops".

finally, i also want to give thanks to director ash for making such a brilliant adult drama.

i would like to rate this movie: 8 out of 10.

At least that's what Rosario Dawson thought this movie would be achieving. I have no idea, nor have I checked with any insider if situations have changed for women in the adult industry. But the movie is bold in tackling a subject like that and the actors (some of them well known, like James Woods) too.

The leading actress who's more than mesmerizing in this one, seems to have gone out of the industry and if her twitter is correct, she wants to evolve to a filmmaker. It's a shame, because she has the charisma to be in front of the camera, but at least she'll still be in the art business and hopefully be able to continue to express herself.

In this movie, which has nudity that is not meant to be getting anyone excited though, her character has to endure quite a couple of things. It's the industry, it's her personal life (family issues) and of course a maybe bad choice in secondary career besides the films she did.

There are quite a few interesting ideas thrown around and a lot of nice but also horrible things that are happening. All that seem out of control of the person actually right in the middle of it ...

I liked that the movie was kept real. In other words it wasn't turned Hollywood. Some of those watching with me said it was boring in parts. I didn't think so. I said, "We are watching her life. Is your life exciting 24/7? No, it isn't." Then they changed their minds because they viewed the movie differently than say an action flick. I thought this was one of James Woods best performances. We all found it sad that it was a piece in a smaller film that most won't get to see. He did an excellent job of playing someone with Parkinson's. In the middle of the movie I went online to see if it mentioned anywhere his actually having Parkinson's because I thought he was that good. That's the difference between a good actor and a great actor.