‘Anora’ is a best actress contender (Review)

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — “Anora” follows a young exotic dancer who goes by “Ani”, short for “Anora”, who falls in love with one of her clients, a young-looking son of a mysterious, ultra-wealthy Russian family named Ivan.

Their love spirals into a full-on “quicky wedding” in Las Vegas, which throws their relationship to chance as his family desperately tries to annul the wedding, but first, they have to find Ivan, who has gone missing.

Sean Baker has a unique voice in film but is a director who has been hit or miss for me. “The Florida Project” stood out to me as his strongest, but “Red Rocket” was one of my least-liked films of 2021. I was concerned going into this, as nothing I’ve seen from this creative has stuck with me how I want it to. I’m happy to report that “Anora” has changed that.

Mikey Madison gives the performance of her career so far. Ani has heart, humor, and a mouth that would make a sailor blush. I love how strong she is, especially in the moments when you see her vulnerability, her perspective on who she thought she married, and her philosophy of how the world sees her (particularly men). This may be my favorite leading character I’ve seen in a Sean Baker film, and seeing how well both of them work together, I’m hopeful we see more soon.

Standout supporting characters come from the hilariously ill-equipped henchmen of Ivan’s father, who are introduced in one of the film’s funniest moments, as Ivan is bolting out the door while they attempt to wrangle Ali. These henchmen don’t want to be doing any of what Ivan has put them through, and seeing the disappointment on their faces as they sink deeper and deeper into their worst-case scenario is both hilarious and engaging to watch.

For Utah audiences, this is a tough sell. I don’t see many people clamoring for a story centered around a person with an occupation like stripping, although they should. I believe “Anora” is worthy of their time because of how well director Sean Baker can immerse you into her mind, and how relatable she is. Baker has a trend of bolstering socially “unwelcome” characters and making them sympathetic, and with this new film, I believe he’s found the perfect formula for that.

Will this be 2024’s “Poor Things”? It worked for Emma Stone, and while I don’t know how my local audience will react, I do think it’s generally more palatable for viewers due to the straightforward style of storytelling.

I’m adding “Anora” to my top 10 films of 2024. If you enjoy the films I’ve recommended that maybe did not line up with your usual viewing habits, I would consider seeing them whenever you get a chance.

See It or Skip It? See It

Note: See It or Skip It is proudly owned and produced by Patrick Beatty. ABC4 is a broadcast partner, but the show, its content, and opinions are independently created.