Upon a second viewing I can confidently say, this is easily my favorite film of the last decade. Probably even more !!

You have soooo much story, character depth, exploration, comedy , emotional tenacity, all wrapped up into what seems to be a pretty straightforward film. I think what makes Anora perfect is the way Sean Baker captures each scene with the right kind of vibe and emotion. And yea, I’ll deep dive into each because I just absolutely love this fucking film. 

(Annie’s Capture)
- When Mikey Maddison’s ‘Annie’ is captured by Ivan’s parents’s ‘goons’, you get a perfect blend of confusion and seriousness while also implementing the hilariousness from Toros, an old headed Russian guy. Toros’s character is actually the main reason this film is soooo hilarious. An old fashioned Russian guy who has to keep up with today’s societal norms. 

(Ivan’s Club Capture)
-After a long haul of going from place to place trying to locate Ivan, we find him in the very spot we first meet him, the strip club lol. This 10 minute session is sooooo engaging because 1. Ivan is plastered out of his mind and receives a  lap dance from Annie’s arch nemesis 2. We get to see Toros and the Goons go from room to room, searching for Ivan while some 50 cent song is playing. I don’t know why this scene stuck out to me, but it’s so hilarious seeing old head Toros drag Ivan out of the strip club while 50 cent is playing, all while Annie’s literally fist fighting her nemesis. I LOVE IT

(Annie and Igor’s final moment)
- Mannnnnnnn this last sequence. With a film that really doesn’t get too emotional until its 3rd act, it hits pretty hard. Seeing Annie and Igor’s interaction at Ivan’s vacant house was making me reallllyyy want some form of intimacy to happen just with where it was leading. Both insulting and giving each other shit but still throwing subtle ‘hints’ of care for one another, but the realization is that we don’t get enough with these characters for it to make sense that they’d get intimate ……Until the last 8 minute sequence in the car. That hit me so hard because of how unexpected it was. That wrapped everything up perfectly. It ended in a way where I was happy and satisfied, right up until the end where it drops a bombshell of ‘sadness’ I think maybe??? Is that what you’d call it??

Overall, I need to get off Letterboxd because I can sit and talk about this film for hours. I’m so happy I gave this a chance too because it’s been a very long time that I’ve seen a film that engages me enough to want to talk and think about it for hours. I don’t know, it’s just a rollercoaster ride of enjoyment that I’ve not had in a film where it tugs on all of your emotions. Easily the best of the year !