PLEASE NOTE
Filthy Gorgeous would never qualify for the next higher rating, but is rated R for the right reason. It is not any more explicit than some other series or films on Showtime or HBO, but the theme is identical to the film American Gigolo and contains adults-only language and suggestive behavior. The nature of this film is, of course, not for everyone and thus neither is this review. Because this review will appear in a public forum (if approved by IMDb staff), every effort is made to keep this review acceptable for such an audience. With that out of the way, let's get to the fun part.
THE BOSS
Isabella Rossellini is perfect as the uber-elegant, fabulously-wardrobed-and-jeweled, insanely-wealthy madam. She "loves" her "kids" as family, as long as they're on time with their bodies and their money. Her apartment makes The Donald's look like Motel 6. I imagine her home/office is 100% cotton-free with silk being the only fabric allowed through the front door.
Officially, her clients are seeking intelligent conversation and other forms of legitimate and stimulating interaction, such as an attractive companion for dinner, theater or opera. Should spontaneous intimacy occur, it has nothing, and she means NOTHING to do with her nor the agency. She refuses to hear intimate details of her employee's bookings. Isabella is beautiful as she leads her crew and clients with a calming confidence and irresistible charm.
Minimum requirements for employment are:
1. Gorgeous.
2. Able to speak in complete sentences.
3. Gorgeous.
There is only one person who cracks her tough shell, makes her vulnerable, and leaves her unsure, unsteady and broken-hearted: Her daughter. Her ex-husband and estranged daughter live in a typical middle-class suburban home with a small front yard and 2-car garage. Her daughter is emotionally and physically distant, treating her mother in the most painful way possible, with utter indifference.
THE CREW
- A tall, chiseled, Prada-model-thin, uprightly-postured, classically-gorgeous-and-knows-it blonde male.
- A postpartum, lactating mother whose husband promises she can stop working when they can buy a red Lincoln Navigator, her dream car.
- A drug-addled, downward-spiraling former top-notch female who now disappears for days on end to dance in a sleazy booth for dope.
- A new, young, sweet, polite, honest first-timer who could easily be the quarterback of any Midwestern college football team.
- There are more experts in their chosen career that I'll leave you to discover when you watch.
THE CLIENTS - Wealthy, of course. - Eccentric, usually. - Lonely, often.
A college professor of French history who only wants to talk during bookings.
An overweight female with zero self-esteem, a well-paying job and a cheerleader fantasy including full uniform and sparkly pom-poms.
An aging, crystal-snorting clothes designer who, when displeased with a TV show, simply points a Magnum towards the display and fires until no bullets are left.
As with the crew, there are more insane, demanding and entertaining clients that I'll leave you to discover on your own.
THE STORY
They say it's all about the story and Filthy Gorgeous has story in spades. The follies of human behavior and desire mixed with the business of satisfying those desires are sometimes hysterical, sometimes sad, and probably very real. Despite the theme, this is a fascinating story of people and relationships that left me wanting more in the form of a series.
A SERIES MUST!!!
Filthy Gorgeous is written by Ron Nyswaner, who also wrote the film Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks plus many other films with critical and audience acclaim.
Filthy Gorgeous absolutely, positively is prime-cut, blockbuster material for a series. Sho.com uses the word "series" when describing it and it's 59 minutes long, obviously the typical length of a series, not a movie. I'm puzzled why it's listed in On-Demand choices under "movies" not "series" and I've only seen one "episode" of the "series." However, I have seen this episode 3 times and most definitely will watch it again.
Okay Showtime; let's get going with the series.
Just as The Tudors is my Sopranos, Filthy Gorgeous is my Sex and the City.
