London Film Festival 2024

Directed by: Sean Baker
Written by: Sean Baker
Run Time: 2 hours 19 minutes

In both Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and Radio Silence’s Scream (2022), Mikey Madison has managed to deliver truly scene-stealing turns with only small amounts of screen time. Now starring in Sean Baker’s Anora – one of her first major leading roles – she proves that as the main character, she’s just as capable of setting the screen alight too.

Russian-American Ani (Madison) lives and works in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. While on a shift at strip club, Headquarters she’s handpicked for one of their high-flying clients, Russian rich-kid Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), since they speak the same language. They quickly hit it off and when Vanya makes Ani an exclusive, lucrative offer she agrees to pose as his girlfriend for a week, seeing the pair end up in Fabulous Las Vegas.

Right from the unexpected Take That needle drop – yes, you read that correctly – that accompanies its opening credits, Anora exhibits a certain cinematic quality that’s feels totally free from inhibition, one that’s completely absorbing to watch. As Ani and Vanya’s relationship develops the film maintains this energy, supported by Baker’s smooth editing which brings the audience along with considerable ease for what will be truly the wildest of rides. However, whilst the young couple’s budding romance is as amusing to watch as it is implausible, it’s with the arrival of the film’s second act that Anora really comes into its own.

With the beginning of its mid-section comes a trio of supporting performances – Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan – that, alongside Madison and Eydelshteyn, create one of the funniest cinematic ensembles in recent memory. After an altercation at Vanya’s impressive family mansion, he and Ani become separated and it’s up to the aforementioned muscle, sent by Vanya’s father, to bring them back together. Baker expertly utilises his cast, combining their perfect timing and hilarious line delivery with infectious escalation comedy to create a thoroughly riotous experience for viewers. It’s reminiscent of Sin-Dee’s reckless rampage in Tangerine (2015), but as if it was on steroids.

While Madison makes her mark as a lead actor with serious aplomb, co-star Eydelshteyn firmly establishes himself as a fresh young talent wholly worth watching as well. Their chemistry is fantastic, both displaying an endearing naivety that’s hard not to root for, even if it’s clear that their honeymoon period just can’t last. Elsewhere Borisov’s surprisingly sensitive turn as Igor is a pleasant addition to the performances, decidedly cutting through the utter chaos of all the Russian oligarch’s unhinged family dynamics.

And even though there are some pacing issues leading up to and during the third act – it’s the director’s longest picture to date – simply put, Anora is Sean Baker’s best film yet. Its blend of hysterical comedy with sobering reality is unflinching. While its cast is exceptional, each of them shinning individually and as one. Thankfully for viewers, what happens in Vegas, doesn’t stay there.

Star Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★