Anora (2024)

A young escort from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

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Main Cast:

Mikey Madison

Yuriy Borisov

Main Crew:

Written, Directed, and Edited by

Sean Baker

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Sean Baker, the director of Anora, certainly has a style and a theme he likes to explore. It's getting to the point now where we can say "This is a Sean Baker film" just by looking and listening.

Anora was getting Oscar buzz coming out of Cannes... but I am always dubious of that because films get standing ovations there all the time. But, I kept it on my radar. Where I live, it was never playing in cinemas, and streaming was released back in December. It took too long to see it, but now that I have I can join the club. This film is awesome.

Yuriy Borisov steals the show from an OUTSTANDING Mikey Madison but not by much. If he were in the film from the start, there is no doubt he would have a Best Actor nod coming his way instead of the Supporting Actor nod he received. And he would have a better chance if that were the case but I don't see him winning this one.

Mikey Madison has won and been nominated for so many awards, I am surprised she got the Oscar nom... and not because she doesn't deserve it but because this is so unlike the Academy to recognize a role like this. Her NY accent was perfect and the way she portrayed her emotions was unreal.

Mikey Madison in Anora

I could have done with a shorter first act just to have more time with Yura and Mikey together. But as soon as Igor shows up and the comedy kicks in, this film truly takes off. While the first act begged for me to look away and do other things since it was all just a big party, the rest of the film grabs you by the throat and never lets go... while being funny.

On the technical side, the editing steals the show. Most times editing isn't supposed to be noticed. An editor cuts the film so it runs smoothly from scene to scene. But sometimes, the editing becomes a part of the experience of storytelling itself. This is one of them. Stellar job by Sean Baker himself, as per usual.

As soon as I finished being frozen through the credits due to the last scene, I immediately put this film on my top ten of the year bumping Long Legs. On my Oscar list, out of films I have seen, it is sitting as my favorite, just sneaking past Dune Part 2.

Watch this film, resist your urge to punch Ivan, and enjoy the ride.

Mikey Madison and Yuriy Borisov in Anora