Review: Anora
Love Is Hustle
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Anora. Keep in mind this is but one of the many movies I watch every year, and that whatever initial grade I come up for this film could change for better or worse with time. To better keep up to date with both my thoughts on other movies and if my feelings on this film changed, follow me on Letterboxd.
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THE PLOT
Via Letterboxd: Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
QUICK REVIEW
Since its screening at the Cannes Film Festival last summer and its subsequent placement for the TIFF Audience Award, Anora has cast a large shadow in the world of film criticism in 2024. The entire awards punditry industry has treated it as a placeholder for the frontrunner for the next Best Picture Oscar, and critics everywhere have hinted it will dominate their “Best of” lists.
Of course, this is a Sean Baker film, and Baker’s work tends to be divisive outside of the critical sphere. Known for examining society's fringes, featuring morally ambiguous or unlikable protagonists, and crafting open-ended conclusions, his films often resonate more with critics than with industry professionals or general audiences.
I’ve been vocal about my skepticism that Anora will claim the Best Picture Oscar, but whether that prediction holds or not, my job as a critic is to evaluate the film on its own terms. Though the movie has been out for a while, I hadn’t had the chance to watch it until my NEON FYC box set/booklet finally arrived in the mail. Now that I’ve seen it, I can finally share my personal thoughts.
To be frank, Anora's first act is its weakest. On its own, it prevents the movie from being a Top 5 contender for me. The opening sets up the story as our protagonist, Anora (or "Ani," as she prefers to be called), becomes entangled in a whirlwind romance with a spoiled rich brat. Not only could this section have been tighter, but I found the “romance” hard to believe. From the outset, I pegged rich kid Ivan as a no-good punk, someone Ani couldn’t see through because she was too dazzled by his (or, more accurately, his parents’) wealth. It made the movie a frustrating watch initially.
However, as soon as the comedic trio that are Toros (Karren Karagulian), Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan), and Igor (Yura Borisov) enter Ani’s life, the film transforms. What began as a letdown becomes one of the funniest and most enjoyable movies of the year. Their antics as two bumbling brothers and a soft-spoken, sweet guy caught in the chaos completely flipped the narrative. From there, Ani’s journey of self-realization and the reality of her circumstances unfolds into a fascinating adventure through the streets of New York. The story culminates in a final sequence that reveals the film’s true romantic core.
Mikey Madison delivers a strong performance as Ani, one that will likely make my personal year-end ballot. Mark Eydelshteyn is almost too convincing as Ivan, the spoiled brat I couldn’t help but want to wring his neck from his very first scene. Yet, the real MVPs for me are Karagulian, Tovmasyan, and especially Borisov. Borisov, in particular, evolves from a background character into the emotional anchor of the film, bringing heart and hope to the story.
Sean Baker’s direction remains impeccable, supported by top-notch cinematography and some of the year’s best editing. The screenplay, after the rocky first act at least, is the true MVP, transforming the film from a whacky Gen Z-inspired Pretty Woman to a comedic adventure and, ultimately, a heartfelt exploration of romantic hope. For my money, this is Baker’s best work to date.
While I wish I connected more with the first act, the rest of Anora is A+ material that more than compensates for its shaky start. It’s easily one of the best films I’ve seen this year and, despite some reservations, largely lives up to the hype (to a point). I’m still skeptical about it taking home Best Picture at the 97th Oscars, but I confidently give Anora an initial grade of A-.
INITIAL GRADING
