Red Rocket Review: Sean Baker’s Film Meanders Along To An Unearned Ending [MFF]

Sean Baker has style. Realistic films by writers and directors about characters living on the margins of society. In Red Rocket (co-written by Chris Bergoch), that guy is a dating porn star. While the movie is certainly gripping and funny at times, the story twists and turns that doesn’t allow for any development of the central characters. Slow and frustrating, the ending doesn’t have a happy ending, with Red Rocket hesitating between trying to say something and getting lost in his own premise.

Using the 2016 election as the backdrop for Baker’s Red Rocket, Simon Rex plays former porn star Mikey Saber, who returns with sweet talk and manipulation. Entering the life of ex-wife Lexie (Bree Elrod), after a decade of working in Los Angeles, her mother-in-law’s (Brenda Dyce) career has dried up. After returning to Texas City, he found a job selling drugs bought from local families. For a while, the story seemed to lean towards the redemption of this apparently despicable character. However, Mikey’s desperation and plans to return to his old life resurface when Mikey meets Kaylee, a 17-year-old donut shop employee nicknamed Strawberry (Suzanna Son), whom Mikey believes will be filming a movie. back to the porn industry. The need. promote your career.

Simon Rex and Brie Elrod in Red Rocket

Red Rocket is definitely not for everyone. Opening with NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye,” the film is yet another Baker’s exploration of impoverished neighborhoods. Its commentary is poignant and somber at times, but the story wastes time coming to an ending that feels bad and contrived rather than a meaningful one after a long build. The story swings from one side of the pendulum to the other. In the end, nothing is known about Mickey other than his past as a porn actor and his seductive manipulations. He’s talking about the big game, sometimes speaking more broadly about his views on various things.

But after a while, following his story became tedious; The pacing is too slow and mostly meaningless, with repeated explorations of the central characters and random developments in his journey. Simon Rex’s performance carries the whole movie. Mitch is completely unaware of his narcissism. He doesn’t really care about anyone and uses people to get what he wants, often using his charm and erotic career as a selling point. Rex’s portrayal of Mikey balances all of these traits with childlike hope and innocence, undaunted by his actions and unconcerned with the harm that actions do to others.

son suzanne in red rocket

The actor seems to pour endless energy into each scene, infusing much of the energetic chaos that persists for the duration of the film. Sure, the film feels authentic as Baker hires new actors for other roles, making their interactions a bit more real on set. However, movies often feel long, messy stories, need to take shortcuts to get to the end. Baker seems most interested in shocking his audience, which undercuts the effective part of Red Rocket.

The film openly highlights how many people are tricked by Mickey into getting what he wants. Being a fool and a compulsive liar is the point, drawing widespread (and often uncomfortable) parallels between Mickey and Donald Trump, with their notoriously conventional speeches in the background. throughout the movie. What Red Rocket ultimately lacks is Mikey’s depth, consequences, and maturity. He just kept doing what he was doing without changing it, and while that may have been his intention, it really doesn’t mean much. Red Rocket has some great moments, and Rex’s performance elevates the story, with energy and charisma at every turn. But the film’s sense of humor doesn’t keep it going, as it doesn’t really have any character development, and it slows down towards the end.

red rocket Middelburg Film Festival premieres October 15, 2021. It hits theaters on December 3, 2021. The 128-minute film is rated R for strong pornography, nudity, drug use and common language.