ANORA - Movie Review

[nivmhn]

Really appreciate how you are able to give us a sense of the movie without giving away any of the plot!!

[DecAllTimeAlways]

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood keeps on giving: Austin Butler, Sydney Sweeney, Maya Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Mikey Madison, Samantha Robinson, Julia Butters…

[aaron-abhimanyuannis]

yet again... you reviews are my "go-to" for upcoming cinema exploration. Your rich and multi-faceted accounts (without giving plot spoilers-thank you!) provide not only anticipation for upcoming offerings- but also provide further depth whilst in my viewing experience. This film was everything I wanted. Tragically gorgeous! Can't wait to watch Red Rocket later this afternoon!

[drdavid]

In some ways this is a reverse of Red Rocket and I think Baker got the tone just right here. The chaos of the screwball comedy section comes out of the situation, it is not imposed on the film. And it also has the familiar contrast between the gutter and the stars, messy reality versus impossible dreams and, as that is embodied in Anora's character, the film is anchored by the stunning performance of Mikey Madison. Not since Brie Larson in Room has such a young star delivered a performance of such maturity. The Florida Project is my favourite of Baker's movies and this is up there with it.

[mnight]

The ending scene was worth admission alone.

[aninjaguardian]

Sean Baker is America's neoralist and one of our best independent filmmakers. I'm glad he's breaking through into some mainstream recognition with Anora

[JesseGoldsmith]

I love you, Maggie. You're the best film critic working today.

[BiaMia]

Omg this was the first video i saw from u and I LOVED IT you are such a great communicator and your opinions and references are quite good!!!

[antoniobronx]

Great review. LOVED this movie. Saw it at a packed AMC Prime theater in Times Square and the audience ate it up- the middle section alone is the funniest comedy of the year. With three outstanding performances by the actors playing the “enforcers”. The performances overall are exceptional, especially Baker’s use of first time actors. Do yourself a favor and go see it in a theater- not just funny but sexy, moving, gorgeous to look at with terrific music and sound.

[ThomasKirby-ubvy]

I love how Sean bakers films his characters NEVER verbally have a conversation of how shitty or about to fall apart their lives are UNTIL the final minute and it’s all done NON VERBAL with just facial expressions. In red rocket, deep down inside Mikey knows what he’s doing is wrong but it’s filmed so authentically in real life u never sit there and say OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE? I JUST LET THIS GUY TAKE THE HIT FOR A 10 CAR CRASH THAT I CAUSED! No he just sits there frozen. And In tangerine, the only moment of clarity they have is at the very end where they hold hands and about to cry and film CUTS. And here anora has the same thing where throughout the film the reality of her life that she refuses to accept is slowly creeping in until final minute of film when she shows a LITTLE bit of emotional clarity the film ENDS. Perfection . Let the audience figure out how she’s feeling

[JEEDUHCHRI]

Nights of Cabiria!

That smile at the end just gets me everytime.

[SoulKnightKing]

Now is the time for Sean Baker to finally win his Oscar. He is fearless and knows how to film true to life moments throughout film. Im so excited for him. It actually may be his best work so far!!

[danmohr]

You did great, your opinions are valued, thanks for sharing! I too wished for more emotional insights into the main character...in a similar vein, I felt "My Own Private Idaho" was more emotionally involving throughout...but yes, the ending of "Anora" is devastating. I also really agree with you about some of his earlier works threading a balance between comedy and drama more vitally. But "Anora" is an important work, and I'm very glad to see Sean Baker finally getting a critical and hopefully commercial breakthrough in his remarkable career.

[ronpotts]

I just got out of the theater from seeing a matinee show, with maybe 20 other people in the auditorium. The scene where Ivanya's handlers first meet Annie had the audience laughing hysterically. I really enjoyed the storytelling and the acting. The actress playing Annie was astonishingly good, as well. I haven't seen much of Sean Baker's previous work, but I will be seeking it out now.

[Themanofthehouse-wwnn]

Loved the first half. The middle part was good but got a little exhausting with everyone just screaming at each other. lol. The ending was excellent, though. The final scene was pretty amazing. I loved the way they ended it just the windshield wipers going and then silence.

[porcorosso]

Nice review! For once that I got to see a new release before your review was posted. This is a masterpiece of a film. A perfect time capsule into how dangerous it is for the working class to dream and how easy it is for the wealthy to get their way. The ending also ruined me.

[plath]

My first Sean Baker film. I felt he painted with broad brush strokes he couldn't always control. Reminded me a little of David O. Russell. Both filmmakers seem intent on marrying comedy and drama as equals, and sometimes the slope gets slippery.

You nailed it when you described the middle section as screwball. That was my favorite part initially, and then the film stagnated there, and it became my least favorite part. It went on too long, and the characters started to feel like they weren't being explored. It felt as though in order to draw out his characters, Baker treats them like fish out of water. He likes to watch them flop and gasp while they try to survive in alien environments. But for that middle section, the environment really didn't change for twenty or thirty minutes while they searched for Anora's disappearing husband. They were traveling to different locations in New York City but the joke got stale and the characters just went around yelling at each other. I wished Anora had quit acting like she still believed in her marriage sooner. She's still acting like she believes in their love in the middle of the court room, and it's false. She's false. She's a survivor who's sold all her love away, and it's heartbreaking, and the audience knows it, but the movie couldn't seem to stop the screwball antics.

9/10

Then it finally did. Devastating. Agreed.

[GizmoBeach]

Ah yes from the gentleman who wrote/directed Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket.

Anora’s plot sounds overly familiar, but as Red Rocket showed Baker takes a seemingly lightweight story idea and turns it into intense and striking dramatic material, squeamishly awkward as adult situations often turn into.

[coreythomas]

Great review Maggie! Can't wait to see this one this weekend.

[bluescat]

Seeing tomorrow . Cannot wait. Huge fan of Red Rocket, and Florida Project too. Madison caught my eye in OUATIH.