ANORA : Tuesday 25th February 2025

I finally got around to seeing the critically lauded, highly praised and multi-award winning MA15+ Rated 'ANORA' earlier this week. This American comedy drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Sean Baker whose prior feature film credits include his 2000 debut with 'Four Letter Words' and then the likes of 'The Prince of Broadway' in 2008, 'Tangerine' in 2015, 'The Florida Project' in 2017 and 'Red Rocket' in 2021. This film saw its World Premiere at last years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it garnered much critical acclaim, a ten minute post-screening standing ovation and won the festivals prestigious Palme d'Or Award. It was released in the US in mid-October last year and has so far grossed US$38M from a production budget of just US$6M. It has also collected 128 award wins and another 275 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit, including six Oscar nods. 

Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva (Mikey Madison) is a 23-year-old stripper working in 'Headquarters', an upmarket strip club, and living in Brighton Beach, in Brooklyn. As Ani is able to speak some Russian and understand the language, her boss Jimmy (Vincent Radwinsky) introduces her to a customer Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the somewhat immature 21-year-old son of a very wealthy Russian oligarch, Nikolai Zakharov (Aleksei Serebryakov). Vanya is in the US to study, but prefers to party, get drunk, snort cocaine, play video games and lord it up in his family's extensive Brooklyn mansion, where he resides alone while his parents are back home in Russia. 

Vanya hires Ani for numerous sexual encounters and pays her US$15K to stay with him for a week and be his girlfriend. Vanya and his besties jet off to Las Vegas, where Vanya asks Ani to marry him so that he can obtain a green card instead of returning to Russia to work in his fathers business. Although Ani is reluctant at first, Vanya insists his love is genuine, and they elope to a Vegas wedding chapel and within fifteen minutes are officially married. Ani quits her job at Headquarters and moves into Vanya's mansion. 

When news of the wedding reaches Russia, Vanya's mother, Galina (Darya Ekamasova), orders his Armenian godfather, Toros (Karren Karagulian), to find the couple and arrange an immediate annulment while she and her husband fly to the US on their private jet. Toros sends his henchmen, Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov), to the house. They tell Vanya that his parents will take him back to Russia, and anger Ani by calling her a prostitute. Vanya storms out of the house and flees the unfolding scene. 

Ani fights Garnik and Igor, injuring them and destroying several items of furniture, fixtures and fittings, but they tie her up with a telephone cable. A short time later Toros arrives. He lectures Ani about Vanya's immaturity, forcibly removes Ani's four carat diamond wedding ring, has her gagged with a red scarf, and offers her US$10K to accept the annulment. Ani insists that she and Vanya are in love, and that she may already be carrying their baby, but agrees to help Toros find him.

Ani, Toros, Garnik, and Igor spend the night driving around Brooklyn searching for Vanya, with Toros asking just about anyone and everyone if they have seen Vanya because he's disappeared. Ani's friends inform her that he is at Headquarters, her former workplace with another stripper. The group arrives there to find Vanya too intoxicated to listen or talk any sense to them, and Ani getting into a fight with another rival stripper Diamond (Lindsey Normington). They all leave together forcing them to wait outside the courthouse until the morning. The next day, the annulment is thrown out of court because Ani and Vanya were married in Nevada, and the rule of law states that a marriage can only be annulled in the state in which the marriage took place. 

At a New York airport, Nikolai and Galina disembark their private jet having just flown in from Russia. Ani speaks to Galina in Russian, saying how pleased she is to meet with Vanya's beautiful family but Galina immediately rejects her, and chides her for her poor command of the Russian language. Vanya concedes to his parents and coldly tells Ani that their marriage is impossible while Galina orders everyone on the plane to Las Vegas. Ani, at first refuses to board the plane, and states that having not signed a prenuptial agreement, threatens to force Vanya through divorce proceedings, but Galina threatens to destroy her life and that of her family and friends if she does. Finally realising Vanya's immaturity and his family's power, Ani agrees to the annulment. After the papers are signed, Igor suggests that Vanya apologise to Ani, but Galina insists that her son will not apologise to anyone. Ani insults Vanya and Galina before leaving. Toros tells Ani that she can spend one last night in Vanya's mansion but that she must be gone in the morning, and that is when she'll also get her US$10K.

Igor takes Ani back to New York to pack up her belongings. While spending one last night at the Zakharov mansion, Igor attempts to break the ice with Ani by trying his luck with some friendly chat. She though remains upset by their first encounter, arguing that he assaulted her and would have raped her had they been alone, to which he replies that he is not a rapist and denies the claim. In the morning, Igor gives Ani the money Toros promised her and drives her home. In the car, he returns Ani's wedding ring as a gesture of goodwill, but makes her promise not to tell Toros. Ani initiates sex with Igor in the car, but stops when he attempts to kiss her - she breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably in his arms.

The first half of 'Anora's' 139 minute run time is a bonk fest with more T&A on display here too that is sure to turn some audience members off. That said the second half delves into the drama with some real laugh out loud moments that touches on raw emotion, a power struggle, the class divide and human connection. Mikey Madison is a force to be reckoned with here, and delivers a performance worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon her, and the remaining ensemble cast all more than adequately earn their keep too. Writer and Director Sean Baker has here delivered us a film of two halves, with the first displaying all the boldness and beauty of Anora, and the second more akin to Guy Ritchie's early work on 'Lock, Stock . . . . .' and 'Snatch' as the film lurches into a game of cat and mouse that ultimately sees our protagonist rue the day that she ever crossed paths with the antagonist and his family. My only criticism of the film is that I found the first half over gratuitous bordering on the repetitive same old same old, and the Director could have benefited from a less is more approach by shaving twenty minutes off the run time and ramping up the second half more. It is certainly worth the price of your movie ticket though, but if you are over sensitive to sex, nudity and T&A on screen, then be warned that perhaps this movie is not for you. 

'Anora' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th December 2024.

Christmas has arrived once again, and as such it would be remiss of me not to wish my worldwide readership all the very best for a Merry, Happy and safe Christmas, wherever you are in world, whatever it is you do to celebrate the occasion, and whoever you share it with. Thanks for your continued support over the last year - it is your viewership that makes my reviews and previews of the latest release new films all the more worthwhile, and I look forward to doing more of the same throughout 2025. Until then, Merry Christmas, happy holidays and complements of the season, from Sydney, Australia.  

This week with seven hot new releases to tease you out to your local Odeon, we kick off with an English language Spanish drama film about two grown up middle aged women who were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine, and who after years of being out of touch, meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet circumstance. This is followed by a story of two mismatched cousins who reunite for a tour through Poland to honour their beloved late grandmother. Then we turn to a semi-autobiographical film based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of a British pop superstar. Next up is an American romantic comedy drama that follows the beleaguered marriage between a young sex worker and the son of a Russian oligarch. Following on we have an Italian and French film about an Italian woman who searches for happiness during the long summers of her youth, falling in love with her city and its many memorable characters. Then we have an international co-production set in Mumbai, where a nurse's routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, while her younger roommate tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. And closing out the week we have the third instalment in this video game adaptation franchise that sees Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles ally with Dr. Robotnik to defeat a new enemy.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'THE ROOM NEXT DOOR' (Rated M) - is a Spanish drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Pedro Almodovar, whose prior feature film credits include 'All About My Mother' in 1999, 'Talk To Her' in 2002, 'Volver' in 2006, 'Broken Embraces' in 2009, 'The Skin I Live In' in 2011, 'Julieta' in 2016, 'Pain and Glory' in 2019 and 'Parallel Mothers' in 2021. This film is based on the 2020 novel 'What Are You Going Through' by the American writer Sigrid Nunez, and is Pedro Almodovar's English language full feature length debut. It was awarded the Golden Lion, the top prize of the Venice Film Festival where is saw its World Premiere in early September this year. The film was released in its native Spain in mid-October, in the US last week, has so far received generally favourable critical reviews and has grossed US$9M. 

Here, Ingrid Parker (Julianne Moore) and Martha Hunt (Tilda Swinton) were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. Ingrid went on to become an autofiction novelist while Martha became a war correspondent, and they were separated by the circumstances of life. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation. Also starring John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola.

'A REAL PAIN' (Rated MA15+) - this American and Polish Co-Produced comedy drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Jesse Eisenberg in only his second Directorial outing following 'When You Finish Saving the World' in 2022. Here mismatched and hitherto disconnected American Jewish cousins David Kaplan (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honour their beloved grandmother and to connect with their heritage. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Also starring Will Sharpe and Jennifer Grey. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, was released in the US in early November, has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$8M against a production budget of just US$3M. It has so far picked up twenty-two award wins and a further forty-one nominations from around the awards and festival circuit with a number of those nominations still pending an outcome. 

'BETTER MAN' (Rated MA15+) - is a semi-autobiographical film about the British singer and songwriter Robbie Williams, and is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Michael Gracey whose previous feature film credits are 'The Greatest Showman' in 2017 and the documentary film 'Pink : All I Know So Far' in 2021. This film charts the life story over three decades of pop singer Robbie Williams stardom, but with Williams portrayed as a chimpanzee (voiced by Robbie Williams with Jonno Davies as the young Robbie) because, as he puts it, he always felt 'less evolved' than other people. Also starring Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman, Anthony Hayes and Kate Mulvaney. The film was shot in Melbourne and London, has generated mostly positive reviews, saw its Premiere screening at the Telluride Film Festival in early September and is released this week too in the US.

'ANORA' (Rated MA15+) - this American romantic comedy drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Sean Baker whose prior film making credits include his debut in 2000 with 'Four Letter Words', 'Take Out' in 2004, 'Starlet' in 2012, 'Tangerine' in 2015, 'The Florida Project' in 2017 and 'Red Rocket' in 2021. Here then, Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva (Mikey Madison) is a 23 year old sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire Nikolai Zakharov (Aleksei Serebryakov) and his wife Galina Zakharova (Darya Ekamasova). However, when Vanya's parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at this years Cannes Film Festival in late May and won the Palme d'Or Award, was released Stateside in mid-October, has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$29M off the back of a production budget of US$6M. 

'PARTHENOPE' (Rated MA15+) - this Co-Produced Italian and French film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Set in the sundrenched coastal Italian city of Naples, the smiling Parthenope  (Celeste Dalla Porta, with Stefania Sandrelli as the older Parthenope) recalls her childhood, in which her brothers were obsessed with her. Her anthropology professor finds her a brilliant student. She considers becoming an actor, but is not inspired by her eccentric acting coach. She wonders about becoming an aesthete, and meets the drunken writer John Cheever (Gary Oldman), whose work she admires. Or perhaps she could have a romantic fling with the ugly bishop who attends the miracle of the dried blood that turns liquid each year, the phenomenon she is studying in anthropology. The film was in competition for the Palme d'Or at this years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it saw its World Premiere and received a near ten minute standing ovation, but has subsequently garnered mixed or average critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$8M. It was released in Italy in late October, is released in France 12th March and the US on 7th February. 

'ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT' (Rated M) - is an international Co-Produced film involving companies from France, India, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy, and is Directed by the Indian film maker Payal Kapadia in her feature film debut. The film had its World Premiere at this year Cannes Film Festival in late May and was the first film from India to compete in the main competition since 1994, and won the Grand Prix. The film centres on two roommates who also work together in a city hospital - head nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and recent hire Anu (Divya Prabha), plus their coworker, cook Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam). Prabha, her husband from an arranged marriage living in faraway Germany, is courted by a doctor at her hospital; Anu carries on a romance with a Muslim man, which she must keep a secret from her strict Hindu family and Parvaty finds herself dealing with a sudden eviction from her apartment. It was released in limited theatres in India in late September before going wide there in late November and in France in early October. A US release date has not yet been confirmed. It has met with widespread critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$1.9M at the Box Office. 

'SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3' (Rated PG) - this US and Japanese Co-Produced action adventure comedy film is based on the Sega video game series of the same name, and is Directed by Jeff Fowler who also Directed the previous two instalments in the franchise in 2020 and 2022, and which grossed a combined US$725M off the back of a total US$190M production budget. Here then, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) face a powerful and mysterious new adversary, Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves). The trio form an unlikely alliance with Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) in the hope of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet. However, the stakes become raised when Robotnik is reunited with his thought-to-be-long-lost grandfather, Gerald Robotnik (also Jim Carrey), who seems to have his own sinister plans for Shadow. Also starring James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Krysten Ritter and Natasha Rothwell. The film was released last week in the US and the UK, has generated positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$28M off the back of a US$122M production budget. 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4' is slated for an early 2027 release.

With seven new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-