Sean Baker's Coldest Film

[@ccraneem7894]

Great vid, but I’m almost certain the mansion is in mill basin. The bridge in the background is the cross bay bridge

[@TaylorJWilliams]

Yes I believe you’re right! Pinning as a correction

[@tuangeldemiel]

I think the reason the movie didn’t feel as warm in the beginning was cause of how cold Annie’s life is. She works, sleeps all day, works again. It’s such an isolated life and she clearly has no connection with her sister.

[@mommyslilstinker]

It also explains how easily she was allured by vanya, his lifestyle was probably the most fun she’s had in how long she could remember. It’s probably the first time she felt alive in awhile

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

She's a more tragic variant of the Cinderella tale. The ending might be the darkest in Baker's filmography so far.

[@bruh-hj7gi]

​​@@jonathanmulondo9206 the ending is tragic, but also gives hope with love, I wouldn't say its that dark

[@machiel5888]

@@bruh-hj7gi I don't have that reading at all. The ending shows me that she's not ready to be loved at all, and she can't even let Igor in. I don't see Igor and Anora getting together. Igor doesn't need that drama in his life tbh.

[@Ro-pw6de]

I think your criticism of the lack of warmth in the beginning of the film doesn’t work for me as I see that as the point. There is very little, if any warmth in Ani’s life. Doing sex work and living in a shitty house right next to a train is exactly why she ignores her better judgment for a chance to escape it all, and in turn makes the ending that much more heartbreaking

[@casterminion5047]

I feel like each passing year his movies only get colder and darker, the snow finally starting to fall in the last act fit really well

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

Interesting, I loved the movie because of the coldness, I thought it contrasted nicely with the fragile, childlike warmth of the lead. It gave the message that 'there's no space to be a real human here', which broke my heart in a good way

[@zulalerdurmus7339]

this is such a good take

[@bev9708]

We had a month of Sean Baker films leading up to Anora’s release at my favourite cinema … what a treat to catch all his earliest stuff I’d never seen on the big screen!!

[@iswhosheis]

It's not just cold it's dark. Her name and the title, which is heavily important to the story, means "light".

[@CannibalWHORE22]

I think what sets Anora apart from other Sean Baker’s movies is the fact that each one of his movies the main characters had secret agendas or were living not in their means, so although you felt sorry for them they had it coming the whole time then the chickens came home to roost. Anora is way more different, Ani didn’t deserve anything that happened to her and she was badly duped. She worked hard also didn’t do anything wrong she was just in love only for it to go sideways in a very bad way. Truly believe it is the most heartbreaking story Sean could have written.

[@PoorBoyMinorKey]

The ending scene was worth admission alone. The middle of the movie was pretty good/funny but also exhausting with everyone screaming over each other for 45 minutes.

[@griffinwalker823]

Not that I’m entirely in disagreement, but what did you personally find so moving or effective by the ending scene?

[@platipi1875]

The way that most of the movie is so loud and then it ends so quietly with just the windshield wiper is such a chilling contrast I loved how the ending is interpretable but also conclusive which I feel like it’s hard to do

[@nicolasgasquoine]

We need more Goons in movies. Great cast and laughs throughout

[@MilkyWayGrump]

You could be referring to either the classic OR modern colloquial definition of "goon" and it works in the context of this movie regardless

[@MagicPeaceLove]

A masterpiece, imo, and Mikey Madison gives a genius performance. I've seen it twice so far and try as I might I just can't catch her acting. For me, the 3-act structure (1. Pretty Woman, 2. Uncut Gems, 3. brilliant wrapup that sticks the landing) works beautifully.

[@chrisb.1214]

Ugghh, I need an encyclopedia for this highbrow reviewer.

[@Paul20661]

loved it also it went in a direction we were not expecting

[@valliyarnl]

Adored this movie

[@WhatSmada]

Anored

[@downsjmmyjones101]

Take a shot every time he says "material conditions".

[@isral8765]

Take a shot every time he says a big word to sound smart

[@downsjmmyjones101]

@isral8765 I don't think he's trying fo sound smart. He's trying to sound socialist.

[@griffinwalker823]

@@isral8765local man discovers the concept of art critique

[@gregorandrade1968]

Appreciate the context and retrospective of Sean Baker’s films. But the two main criticisms here seem a bit off. First, that somehow this movie is a deviation from a supposed style that Sean Baker has, sunny warm movies with warm characters, even though the video here points out that was not the case in his first couple of movies (the NY ones), and as if a director is not allowed to change or evolve. It’s auterism taken to the extreme, how dare Sean Baker not make a warm movie full of warm characters….. Second, a real straw man criticism here is that this movie has a “star” in the cast, which is laughable because in what world is Mikey Madison a “star”? Is a small part in a Tarantino movie and a lead role in Scream the resume of a “star” these days? Plus Sean Baker has another movie anchored by Willem Dafoe, a true proper star in every sense……

[@anitrawles6004]

Yeah I like this guy as a reviewer a lot, extremely thoughtful, but I agree here he seems to come in with quite a lot of expectation. Taken as it’s given, the brief scene at the sisters house demonstrates the self-consciousness of being obliged inside of another person’s space. It demonstrates it pretty succinctly, and that helps explain her motivation which is really all we need from that. All in all this feels like an appetizer of a review, pointing out a few interesting motifs without sinking into the meat and potatoes of this film, (except for his excellent insight abt the ending). I mean for gods sake I’ve never seen a whole first third of a movie be so visually pleasurable from editing, music, and overflowing ebullient joy and humor. A guy I saw it with literally cried when they got married, that’s how hard it went on Cinderella euphoria. There is a LOT to unpack here.

[@losisd3ad]

man i really enjoy your perspective so much. thanks for making these videos.

[@kittinplus4]

I feel that weather connection is rather forced and doesn't follow or break any pattern in Sean Baker's films.

[@pepefrogic3034]

Very smug review

[@aninjaguardian]

4:17 Glad you touched on the "gaze" and the level of inclusiveness that Baker tries to employ in his films. I've seen some people tear this film down for being another "male gaze" oriented film. I understand where people are coming from when they say that and don't harbor any ill-will to those opinions, but Baker has always tried to be collaborative with his portrayals, which is certainly leagues above 70's/80's exploitation cinema.

[@brendanhickeymovies]

Really agree with this review on many fronts. Formally very accomplished, but all of the lived in qualities of his previous worlds seem missing here. It feels like it wanted to be a salacious romp, but also posture itself as having something significant to say about class, or sex work, and I think it very much failed on every front of the latter agenda. I really never felt like I knew Annie as a person, or felt like her relationship to Vanya had anything more than vapid surface level glamour. Maybe this was the point, but if so, by the end I asked myself what the point of any of it was? The ending also felt really really icky and amateurish. Like borderline exploitative or cruel, in a way that some have accused baker of being in his past works, but that I have not felt, and have given him the benefit of the doubt. Very surprised at the universal praise on this one. Glad you had a more mixed reaction.

[@lorcan545]

Is this thing’s reputation going to drop like a rock once it’s finally widely seen? I read no reviews and hardly saw anything of its trailer before seeing it yesterday, other than the title of this video, which is something I mentioned in my Letterboxd post about Anora. I also wrote that, based on some info Sean Baker shared with Bret Easton Ellis on his podcast in 2015, some proto version of Anora may have existed prior to Tangerine.

[@andrewjordan1750]

Man, I hope this movie doesn’t get the Uncut Gems treatment where suddenly everyone seemingly hates it for a while.

[@lorcan545]

Did that happen to Uncut Gems? The reason I bring up Baker discussing a planned film in the mid 2010’s which might have resembled the film that Anora is, is that I think Uncut Gems casts a shadow over Anora, and maybe that’s just bad luck with timing for Baker. The people who love Anora seem to love its ending, but if you find the characters flat, as this video discusses, the final couple of scenes don’t have any impact. Contrast that to the effectiveness of Uncut Gems‘ ending.

[@cristinavera8616]

I had no idea who Sean baker was or any of his movies but I saw this trailer literally ALL OVER my insta fyp and yt shorts.....I couldn't even escape this film so I caved and watched it. I also thought it was all emotionally vapid until the end, (which yes I did love) but I'm also surprised ppl think it should get Oscar noms? It honestly read to me as a funny rom com with a sad but realistic ending. Maybe I watched assuming Annie knew how the ending would go idk. I honestly just saw this movie as being maybe a cult classic bc everyone got the laughs but that's it

[@agraciotti]

Great analysis! I completely agree with the problems you pointed out, even though I still like the film a lot and still think it is a remarkable achievement by one of the most talented filmmakers we have today. Few directors are so fierce in talking about the working class and dehumanization by capitalism like Baker.

[@cincomilarboles]

I don't get why Mickey Madison is such a frontrunner to win the oscar, she's great in the movie, but not greater than the TFP leading actress. I've seen this chaotic loud girl a million times.

[@sebastianchhakchhuak1107]

8mins ago is neorealist

[@greentokyo]

I enjoyed this movie a lot more than Red Rocket which I was really disappointed by (save for the great cast of supporting characters). I thought Anora was much more compelling in its story and performances and it definitely had the better ending. That being said, The Florida Project is still Baker's masterpiece by far.

[@gupoll]

Honestly yea I think this is his first non neo-realist film. Doesn’t make it any less bad imo but if you’re looking for something neo-realist, Anora definitely was not

[@123cobrastrike]

I thought filming it in real restaurants and businesses in the Russian neighborhood of Brighton Beach instead of a Holywood studio set really increased the authenticity for me. The ethnic enclaves in NYC are wild and the middle scene seemed super realistic especially with Toros exuding pure immigrant-dad vibes. The mansion they shot at actually was also owned by a Russian oligarch in real life as well.

[@bece00]

My friends and I were laughing about how deeply relatable this movie was, despite the outlandish plot

[@PeterZeeke]

I agree with the casting of a traditional actor

[@TimGreen87]

who taught you how to talk ?

[@Enr227]

Hard to move on from outstanding Florida Project

[@eldr1ntravvv]

Love your analysis and commentary. But we need another camera shot than you side eyeing us because of the microphone a bit to your right. I know you're trying to capture the sound but maybe it can be placed directly in front of you? It seems to be distracting you at some points instead of fully speaking to the audience without the worry of capturing it. It feels much more natural when you're facing us completely.

[@goodtaste2185]

Great use of a parenthetical frfr

[@seansuperflymason]

I think your criticisms are the point of thw film and it hit me so much more emotionally than any of his other films except for the Flordia Project...im sorry man but I disagree with everything your saying by the end of this, i didnt feel that disconnection at all

[@ivanmatveyev13]

I thought the actress was the girl from Silent Hill, but she isn’t.

[@jahpunk7092]

interesting reflection on this new film --- and of your previous review videos. I like the melding in these films of sex work (ewww... outlaw culture!) with humanism. The use of people new to acting is an added attraction uplifting a life watching independent media (over corporate media that positions itself above the law). I first came across Sean Baker's work with 2012's Starlet ---- not name dropped in this review. It's good. Takes place in the warm sun missing from Anora. With redemptive outsiders making connections...surviving under evil capitalism

[@VENUS-tf6ix]

this was a great analysis but damn you’re looking into my soul for the whole vid. I get you’re reading a prompt but some looking away or more hand gestures would help with you looking directly into the camera the whole vid

[@MrHhoommeerr]

I thought it was a mixture of The Big Lebowski, and GoodTimes with a splash of The Players Club.

[@MegaMikeN1]

Such a pretentious and obnoxious breakdown of a movie and director, I knew the analysis would be poor as soon as he started rambling about exploitation and emphasising the wifes role in the production

[@Ferreira181]

top

[@purekinema]

Using the Marxist terminology of "material conditions" to describe the budgetary constraints on a film set is actually hilarious, thank you

[@slena]

i mean... what's so funny about that ? a film set is a workplace and all non producer directors, screenwriters, dops, actors etc are workers in that enterprise exchanging their labour for money to make an object. an art object, a movie, something immaterial but an object nonetheless. something consumable who's value is defined by a market. despite what author theory feeds us, the making of a movie can very much be examined through a marxist lens

[@purekinema]

​@@slena You could view the making of a movie through a Marxist lens (even though that would generally be an odd thing to do), but that's not what Taylor is doing. He is just using the term "material conditions" to say that Baker finds innovations to make the best art possible with his limited budget. He's just using decontextualized buzzwords to say something basic but make it sound radical

[@slena]

@@purekinema idk maybe it's not the best use of the phrase but clearly you understood his point. but you know true radicality right. which is achieved by leaving mean spirited comments on youtube, got it.

[@purekinema]

@@slena It wasn't supposed to be mean spirited. I called myself a Marxist once and I'm thankful that I've left all ideological cults like that one. I hope people can see in signs like this that ideological thinking never leads to clear thinking. It's very dangerous to let ideology get wrapped up in your identity

[@Aus10-1]

Dude this movie sucked