Honest Reviews - Anora

IS THIS FILM WORTH WATCHING?

HONEST REVIEWS SERIES 1: ANORA

No sponsorship, No shennanigans, just an honest review for your benefit.

Script/Narrative/Directing: 1.5/5

Scene transitions are smooth, but oh my cows the script and dialogues are cringe max.

Acting: 3.5/5

A little forced here and there (some of the shouting is really unnecessary), but overall decent.

Editing & Cinematography: 3.5/5

Mood setting is pretty epic mostly, once in a while it falls flat.

Sound: 2.5/5

Nothing wrong, nothing special. Not a focus here.

Make Up/Hair Styling/Costumes: 3/5

Meets expectations in every way.

Visual Effects: 2.5/5

Average. nothing special, nothing bad.

HONEST TL:DR

Total Avr: 2.75/5

Worth Watching? Uh...not really.

One GIF to express it:

HONEST LONG ASS DISCUSSION:

Wanna know more about the scoring? Here goes:

Script/Narrative/Directing: 1.5/5

The cinematography's nice, and the final scene of Anora and Igor in his car is quite a masterpiece. Otherwise, I have so many questions....

What is the purpose of Anora's background being a escort/erotic dancer? The film never dives in about it. To show contrast between the rich and poor? What is the purpose of having 3 henchmen, with one of them just there to be tossed about, and the leader of them just there to be frustrated and complain at everyone else? It dilutes the time needed for character build up for Igor, which I assume is one of the key characters of the show.

Everything feels so shallow, from the dialogue (full of F bombs that bring no meaning to the show) to the awkward exchanges between characters (it's like nobody knows how to properly communicate)

Want an example?

Anora: You're funny

Vanya: Yea I know..so funny, why?

Anora: I don't know...you're just, you're like.. funny…it's

Vanya: Funny? cool, right?

-.-

Another example?

Like I spent 10 minutes literally watching people scream at one another with zero plot progress and zero contributions to the development of the story or character growth.

Acting: 3.5/5

Daria Ekamasova's acting is very on point, cliche though it may be. Everyone did their best, although given the ridiculous dialogue most of the time Anora and Vanya didn't have anything solid to work on. It's more like watching an awkward amateur porn film than a movie that may be discussing something deeper.

Editing & Cinematography: 3.5/5

The first scene was well shot, although it's pretty R rated lol. The lightings, mood and colors of the club, then eventually the dreary winter sky, the pier, and the final scene in the car while it snows are all thoughtfully crafted.

But that's about it. It doesn't feel like there's a deeper purpose, or has any of the scenes' potential been exploited further. For example, Anora's rented home. There are basically only 2 shots of it, one outside and one of her in her bed. If the director's trying to portray her desire to climb the social ladder, there's no focus on it been an uncomfortable place for her. If the director's trying to make it seem a homely or warm place to contrast against the glitzy but insincere lives of the rich, well…there's nothing on it either.

Sound: 2.5/5

Every sound effect is adequately placed, but nothing stands out, so a passing grade here

Make Up/Hair Styling/Costumes: 3/5

Sexy escort outfits, check. Glamorous Vegas dresses and shirts, check. Rich pompous Russian mother outfit, check…aaaand that's it. Since there is literally little to no character development, outfits, hair styling and makeup does not change much here as well, but they fit the stereotypes overall.

Visual Effects: 2.5/5

Just like the above sections, everything is done accordingly, from the strip club to the party at Vanya's (parents') house, but there's no additional effects added to incite further thoughts or probe at certain concepts for discussion.

CONCLUSION:

Overall Anora feels like a film with much potential, but none of them are explored. Class struggles, relationship struggles, the dignity and humanity of a female sexual worker or the growing pains of a 2nd generation wealthy boy…none of them are explored. Surface nods to everything, checked the boxes for Oscars nomination, and that's it.

The terrible dialogues and filler moments ruined the show. Even the sex scenes are kinda…pointless and way to short to appeal to our base senses (Which Fifty Shades or even 365 Days did a much better job of)