Movie Review: Anora

4 stars out of 5

Brooklyn exotic dancer falls for son of a Russian oligarch, but daddy doesn’t approve. In different hands, this random draw from Hollywood’s Big Hat o’ Plots could’ve been: a raunchy comedy with Adam Sandler [large budget] or Rob Schneider [small budget] as the dad; a Pretty Woman-esque rom-com [full disclosure: Have never seen Pretty Woman]; or an international spy thriller starring Tom Holland and Sydney Sweeney. But with writer/director Sean Baker — whose The Florida Project I really liked (except for the screaming kids) and Red Rocket I mostly liked — it’s an… indie dramedy, I think?

We meet Ani (Mikey Madison), who doesn’t like to be called Anora, a dancer at a Manhattan strip club called HQ. I’m just now learning that Madison was one of the daughters on the show Better Things which I liked a lot. Here she gives a dynamic, multi-layered performance. She is completely believable as Ani from the Brighton Beach block, who knows exactly how to charm/manipulate her clientele. But do not cross her; she is one tough broad who will absolutely not be f’d with. Ani brightens when her dreams of a better life look like they might become reality.

The aforementioned oligarch’s son is Vanya, played by Mark Eydelsheyn with a goofy sweetness that leans toward entitled immaturity; I was physically reminded of Jean-Ralphio from Parks & Rec. The oligarch sends his man in New York, Toros (Karren Karagulian), to investigate the rumor that his son has gotten married. Toros then sends his henchmen Garnick (Paul Weissman) and Igor (Yura Borisov) to Vanya’s house to do the hands-on work.

Sean Baker isn’t afraid to switch gears in this movie. We spend arguably too long establishing both the sleazy strip-club world (I was getting an Uncut Gems vibe) and then Vanya’s spoiled decadent party life. When the henchmen arrive, it nearly becomes a slapstick comedy, with Weissman humorlessly absorbing much of the abuse. As the film shifts again — no spoilers — the characters start to become more human. Karagulian as Toros displays the exhaustion and frustration of a middle-aged middle manager. Borisov, who is slightly too handsome as Igor, is quiet and pensive as his character begins to wonder if he’s doing the right thing. And when we finally see some cracks in Ani’s hard shell, it’s quite affecting.

Baker does an excellent job capturing the Russian and Russian-American existence in Brighton Beach, and when all is said and done, he delivers a very realistic, satisfying moviegoing experience.