Where to watch: Rent on streaming
Reactions: Heart-racing, eyes-glued

Little did I know when I decided to finally rent and watch Anora that at that very same time, it was cleaning up over at the Oscars. Yeah, yeah, I know. How could I not watch the Oscars?? I’ve never been a big awards show fan. Except, of course, when I was younger and looked forward to the MTV Music Video Awards every year.

Back to my review. Anora is remarkable. I had no idea what to expect and it was nothing I could have ever imagined. You may remember from my recent reviews of Emelia Pérez and Kneecap that I really enjoy films that dip in and out of English and a foreign language. They nod to the constant blending of our globalized world and society. And, the way the main character understands Russian but is more comfortable responding in English is a lot like how I feel with my proficiency in Spanish.

Mikey Madison is a freaking star. The reason we’re so gripped by the story is that we want so badly for her to have found her happily ever after. More than that, it’s about the only thing any young person can really hope for anymore, if they want to live a good life: a rich love interest falls for them and changes their life forever. I think that’s why we’re all so swept up in Anora’s desperate attempt to hold onto that golden dream.

Of course, the multi-faceted layers of power, money, and control were so intense to try to keep track of. Anora used her control over the male sex drive to exert power. Ivan uses his (parents’) money to exert power and buy happiness. Toros uses brute force and often violence to exert power. And interestingly Igor uses his strength to exert power, but I found his really interesting because he tempers that physicality. Not that he’s some hero because of it. But he displays a different shade of physical power in the film. And of course the Zakharov parents flaunt their money and influence.

I loved Anora and was rooting for her the whole time.

I loved when Anora confronts Ivan’s mom in Vegas. Fuck yes, my queen.

I hated Ivan. The little prick. Also, who fucks like that? I know, I know. Lots of straight dudes fuck like that. Straight dudes don’t deserve to have sex if that’s how they do it.

I hated Galina Sakharov. But damn was she ruthless and severe. Still, what a c-word.

I loved how Garnik provided the perfect amount of comic relief in an otherwise tense latter half of the movie.

I loved Igor. I did. I’d date him. Yo Igor, I’m single and ready to mingle. Just saying…

And finally, I loved the ending. Fucking perfect in every way.

Anora is racy. There’s lots of skin, boy and girl a like. And there’s sex and drugs and you worse. But it’s the most compelling two hours of filmmaking I’ve seen in ages. I could not stop watching and was so invested in the characters and their story’s ending that I felt almost emotionally bereft when it was all over.

This movie is fucking amazing. I highly recommend it.