Movie Review Red Rocket

Red Rocket

Directed by Sean Baker

Written by Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch

Starring Simon Rex, Bree Elrod

Release Date December 24th, 2021

I find the movie Red Rocket loathsome. It’s not a moral objection to the film as some might assume since the movie centers on the relationship between a former adult film actor and a 17 year old girl, though I do understand why moral objections to this movie exist. No, my issue isn’t that I am some kind of prude or I don’t like to have my values challenged by a work of art. Rather, I just find Red Rocket to be unendingly obnoxious. 

From moment one to moment last Red Rocket is annoying in the way that obnoxious people in the real world can be annoying. Simon Rex’s character Mikey is the kind of person I avoid at all costs because he’s loud and obnoxious and I really can’t stand people who seem to inflict themselves upon others. Some see this character as being challenging and transgressive. I see him as the kind of person who makes me leave social situations so I can avoid being thrust into an unwanted conversation with them which will invariably be about themselves.

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media, linked here. 

Classic Movie Review Take Out

Take Out (2004) 

Directed by Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou 

Written by Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou 

Starring Charles Jang, Jeng Hua Yu, Justin Wa 

Release Date June 6th, 2008 

Criterion Collection Release Date September 13th, 2022 

Take Out is a brilliant slice of life story. This verite, day in the life of a take out delivery man, an immigrant from China, does not have a traditional structure but what it does have is the hum of life. Through remarkable sound design and brave choices by co-directors Sean Baker (The Florida Project) and Shih Ching Tsou, Take Out becomes a heartbreaking and human story of perseverance, striving, hope, despair, hardship and compassion. 

Ming Ding (Charles Jang) is the main character of Take Out. Having come to America without his pregnant wife, hoping to make enough money to bring his family to America, Ming has struggled for months barely getting by. No matter how hard he works, he owes so much money to the criminals who helped bring him to the country that he can't get ahead. When he takes a chance and sends money back to his family, a pair of thugs show up at his rat hole apartment that Ming shares with nearly a dozen other poor Chinese men.

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media. Linked here. 

Movie Review Anora

Anora 

Directed by Sean Baker

Written by Sean Baker

Starring Mikey Madison

Release Date October 8th, 2024 

Published October 8th, 2024 

Watching Mikey Madison embody the character, Ani, a.k.a, Anora, is an electrifying experience. From the first moment you see Ani, you’re captivated by her. That’s easy for a straight white guy to say about a woman who is playing a stripper and is nude as the opening credits are still rolling, but I assure you, dear reader, this is more than mere prurient interest. Mikey Madison’s magnetism and vibrant life emanates from her entire presence and that becomes clear as this strange story unfolds. 

Ani is a stripper and sex worker who meets a young, naive Russian nepo-baby named Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn) when he comes into the club where she dances seeking a woman who can speak Russian. Ani has a vague handle on the language and is given the task of showing Vanya a good time. It goes really well, Vanya has a lot of money and isn’t afraid to splash it around. Eventually, he starts asking about seeing her outside the club, coded language telling us he’s talking about paying for sex. She gives him her phone number and the hook up is planned.

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media, linked here.