Anora

“PLEASE STOP SCREAMING!!!” the hype is definitely real. this film did everything it set out to do to perfection. sean baker had a distinct vision and having the privilege to watch this in a packed theater in 35mm glory made this an unforgettable experience. for starters, mikey madison. mikey madison. she absolutely owns the screen the entirety of the runtime and gives an oscar-worthy performance as the titular character. there were no shortcuts and holding back and the effort and care is so visible in every scene. ani as a character is such a wild and chaotic energy yet the film always. maintains your empathy for her. she is witty, loud, funny, and most importantly, fearless. ani feels like a real person that lives in nyc and just happens to get wrapped up in a wild rollercoaster of foreign affairs and love. her reactions are genuine and believable, despite the “fairy tale” gone awry premise. the rest of the cast is also phenomenal. eidelstein as ivan and karagulian as toros are particular standouts and completely immerse themselves in their respective roles. the plot is organized in the typical three act structure, with each act having a distinct focus and objective: young love, the search, and legal matters. this is a story about love, commitment, and knowing one’s worth. without spoilers, the exploitation of women in the adult industry and the lack of connection and self-worth is heavily explored and despite this film being one of the funniest in years, it remains a tragic tale. what i love is how simple the set-up is and how quickly and repeatedly it builds upon itself, remaining engaging throughout its runtime. this film is loud. not only reflective of how lively nyc is, but also how messy and chaotic the situation ani is caught up in is. lots of screaming, moaning, and arguing but it all is purposeful and impactful! music is blasting in the clubs and car rides are quiet and awkward until they are not. gorgeous movie. from the neon lights of vegas to the snowy streets of new york city, every shot is a pleasure to look at and i particularly enjoyed the camerawork within crowded, tight spaces such as the clubs. also, it is always a plus seeing a movie on film and it definitely boosted my enjoyment. i think what i wasn’t expecting was how hilarious this film was. dialogue is super natural and laugh out loud funny. i saw this at the vista theater in los angeles at a sold out showing and there were so many moments of uncontrollable cackling. it wasn’t just dialogue, much of the comedy was, to my surprise, very slapstick and despite the seriousness of the plot, never felt out of place. i think i have said enough and i really want to try and avoid spoilers but this film is easily my favorite this year. like i completely understand why the buzz around this film is so positive. 10/10 go see this film wherever you can. edit: yeah after letting this one simmer, this is going in my top 4 right now. i do not think this is recency bias. this film is that good.