I was expecting to watch Anora on TV, although I could have seen it online beforehand.
It was shown late at night, and repeated at all hours, which immediately gave me an idea of the film's age rating.
Although it was clear from the first frames, and also from the first half of the film.
For 30 minutes of Anora, it was a balancing act between outright crudeness and the aesthetics of what was happening.
I still can't understand - is it too much or is it beautiful?
Anora (2024, film), review
I generally enjoyed the film's beginning, which was dynamic and modern, with good image quality, nice music, and active filming. This also included my expectations from those conversations in the media about Borisov's involvement.
I watched a New Year's movie on TNT, where the heroine mentions this film.
The acting cast didn't impress me. Many actors fell short.
The main heroine has a great figure, and there's no arguing about that... But in other aspects...
The second main character has a more interesting appearance. And I believed in his acting. Perfectly capturing the essence of a wealthy playboy.
I have a habit of looking up the ages of participants in what I'm watching. 'Anora' is no exception.
Surprisingly, the ages of the main characters matched (exactly for 2024). And here I have more questions about the acting skills of the actress playing Anora - from the very first frames, she's being extremely reserved, although her character is quite feisty, judging by her life story.
Maike Madison plays the leading role of a girl with a complicated life path, but a big desire to change it. By any means. And fate gives her a chance. Although, it's not really up to her what happens next...
Anora (2024, film), review Anora (2024, film), review
I was really impressed by the lead actress - she's got a unique look that really stands out from the crowd, especially compared to the likes of Borisov or Aleksey Serebryakov. But what really caught my attention was how well she meshed with the lead actor.
That being said, I felt like the actress didn't quite get to showcase her full range. She's got great physicality, but her emotional acting was a bit lacking.
Mark Aidelstein - he's got an unforgettable look, and as an actor, he completely exceeded my expectations. He was absolutely phenomenal in his role, and at times, he really made the film shine. I think he's the real MVP of the movie.
Anora (2024, film), review Anora (2024, film), review Anora (2024, film), review
I have to give a shoutout to the supporting actors - they were a bit of a mixed bag. Some of them really stole the show with their charisma, but unfortunately, their acting was a bit lacking.
It seemed like they were trying to add some comedic relief, but it ended up feeling forced and awkward. I'm not sure what they were going for, but it definitely took me out of the movie.
Anora (2024, film), review
Anora (2024, film), review Anora (2024, film), review Anora (2024, film), reviewxa0
Aside from the outstanding performance of the lead actress, I was also impressed by her portrayal of a wealthy, powerful woman who won't tolerate any opposition. The actress nailed the role.
xa0
Anora (2024, film), reviewxa0
Alexei Seredovich also had a supporting role, but I have to wonder about the casting choice. He just doesn't have the right look to play a cultured, middle-aged oligarch.
xa0
Anora (2024, film), reviewxa0
Too many negatives.
The bedroom scenes went on for far too long. I'm not easily shocked, but it felt like they were trying to push the envelope a bit too much.
There were some nice moments, though - those would have been better left in. The problem is, 'Anora' is marketed as a drama, melodrama, and comedy, but it's not that kind of film. Even with the age rating, it felt a bit too much. We could have understood what the main characters were up to without all the explicit content.
First off, the first part of the movie was pretty much based on that. I'm still not entirely sure what the director was trying to get across with all those scenes.
xa0
There are some pretty intense scenes in the movie, and not just one or two. Anora, 2023, movie, reviewxa0
The whole movie, especially the first part, had me wondering - what's the deal with Yuri Borisov?
xa0
He shows up later, but his role is hardly leading, and I wasn't really invested in the storyline he was part of. The actor himself isn't exactly memorable, and I'm not sure his presence made a difference. Maybe someone else could've done the same job, and it wouldn't have been a loss.
xa0
Anora (2024, movie), review Anora (2024, movie), review
Anora (2024, movie), reviewxa0
I'm not sure what the filmmakers saw in this guy, because he's got zero emotional range in this whole movie.
On the other hand, there are plenty of scenes that are just off-putting. For me, I want to see something different in a movie.
xa0
Anora (2024, movie), review Anora (2024, movie), reviewxa0
The second part of the movie is super slow, and to be honest, it's not like anything new was revealed at that point.
I have to admit, the second half of the movie was a real snooze-fest. At first, I dozed off, and then I found myself re-watching the same scenes over and over. It was because I had mixed feelings about the movie, and I really wanted to share my opinion.
But maybe that's exactly where the real magic happens in overlooked movies like this one?
xa0
Anora (2024, film), reviewxa0
One thing that kept bugging me was why they went for a completely new dubbing if the cast is multilingual? A poorly done dubbing job...
The meaning gets lost. And, again, in the media, there was a lot of hype about our actor's involvement in a foreign film. But here, it seemed like the actors were just phoning it in. Even Borisov was underwhelming. He just didn't bring his A-game.
The people who appear alongside him are slightly better, but they're stuck in this one-dimensional market trader persona - it's just as unprofessional as the rest of the cast, not all of them, though.
xa0
Anora (2024, film), review
Anora (2024, film), review
Anora (2024, film), reviewxa0
I've got to give credit to Mark Edelstein's character and his on-screen mom Darya Ekamasova - they were the only ones who really stood out. The rest of the cast just didn't impress me - their roles were too simple. I'm talking about Maya Madison's work, not just her acting.
The ending was confusing. They left me with a lot of questions about the fate of at least a few characters. I think they were trying to keep the mystery alive, but to me, the movie felt like it got stuck on the plot twist.
I have to say, the ending of 'Anora' left me pretty underwhelmed - it felt like a waste of time. They hooked me in with the first half, but the finale was a major letdown.
I didn't enjoy the movie - whether or not to watch it is up to each individual. You can't say there's anything new or unique to the story. The international cast just didn't bring it together.
Personally, I just don't get the hype around 'Anora'. Another story about disappointed Cinderellas in modern life.
xa0
Anora (2024, film), reviewxa0
And I'm left with this nagging feeling that it's all just a bunch of guys being guys - especially the Russian ones...As for the protagonist Borisov, I'm still on the fence - it's up to each viewer to make their own judgment.
For me, 'Anora' is a solid 3 out of 5, but the 'Golden Palm' award went to this film...