Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
9to5 - Days in Porn focuses on the people behind a controversial and multi-billion dollar industry "The Adult Entertainment industry". It depicts their stories, each one different, unadorned and authentic, without glorification or prejudice. It delivers deep insight into their personal lives - from glamorous to grotesque - strange, fascinating, offensive, absurd and sometimes funny moments all at once.
A documentary that attempts an unflinching, humanizing look at the adult entertainment industry by following multiple subjects across their daily lives. The multi-subject approach gives the film genuine breadth and some authentic moments, earning it a modest plot score for its structural ambition. However, the cinematography is workmanlike at best — functional but unremarkable handheld doc footage with little visual distinction. The non-professional subjects vary wildly in screen presence, making the 'acting' (naturalistic performance) uneven. Novelty is moderate: the subject matter is provocative and the fly-on-the-wall approach has some sincerity, but the porn-industry documentary space was already well-trodden by 2008. The ending lacks a meaningful culmination or resonant closing statement, trailing off rather than landing with weight.