Red Rocket (2021) User Reviews (162)

Effective cringe

[Stay_away_from_the_Metropol · 7/10 · 14 December 2021]

Red Rocket was mostly a psychological horror experience for me personally since I am a porn performer of 12 years and related to WAY TOO MUCH with main character Mikey Saber. For brief moments, I was wondering if Sean Baker had been lurking my career and was pulling details from it, but, realistically I know that's VERY unlikely. That aside, I am very confident that I'll never be on Mikey Saber's level (so low) otherwise.

Mikey Saber is a fully despicable lead character. This is definitely one of "those" movies. There aren't really ANY characters that are quite likable - each one only adds to the pileup of utter discomfort. To me, that's this film's primary strength - it is extremely discomforting and remains consistently throughout it's rather lengthy runtime (perhaps a little too long considering it is nearly plotless and there's really no conflict until the final leg of the film). Simon Rex does a great job with the character and definitely puts in the strongest performance in the movie. Everyone else is sufficient but not super memorable (well, ok, Suzanna Son is really memorable too).

The movie spends a lot of time focusing on Saber's efforts in "making it happen" with an underage girl. Things go further than I expected and it certainly adds to the discomfort and the "cringe value" of the movie, which I can only imagine is what Baker wanted to make people feel. I am about 100% sure this element of the movie will rub a lot of people the wrong way, and may cause some "controversy" or general distaste towards the movie.

The movie is not immensely funny but it does have plenty of legitimately comedic moments sprinkled throughout. I had my chuckles here and there, but out of the entire row of people sitting behind me, I don't think I heard a single one of them make a peep once - that in itself was kind of disturbing.

It definitely seems like Sean Baker either did his research or simply has always been paying attention to the porn industry. I did enjoy all the legit name drops and industry references. "Remember the time Kristina Rose almost broke it off?" In the end, the movie really made me just wonder what made Sean Baker feel inspired to tell THIS story specifically. It does kind of feel like a pretty odd way to follow up The Florida Project, which seemed to have so much heart in it - it was so endearing. This one mostly feels seedy through and through. I didn't really find that it had much that would ever make someone want to watch it more than once, nor did I find much of a message in it, but I did like it for its commitment to being exactly what it is - and that's a daring, trashy, absolutely cringe-inducing movie that makes straight male pornstars seem like the scum of the earth.

Literally and Metaphorically Ballsy

[hunter-friesen · 6/10 · 17 September 2021]

*Watched at Cannes 2021*

American indie-darling Sean Baker has always worked on the ground level when making his films. He often casts non-professional actors and plants his audience in the ironically unglamorous parts of America, such as the dingy Magic Castle motel located next to Walt Disney World. Baker's budgets are small, with "The Florida Project'' carrying a total cost of $2,000,000, which is roughly the amount spent to have Arnold Schwarzenegger speak one hundred words in "T2: Judgement Day." Now in 2021, Baker is back to shine a light on lower-America with "Red Rocket'', which debuted in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Opening with the catchy rhythms of NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye", former pornstar Mikey Saber has returned to the deadbeat town of Texas City. Mikey had been at the top of the porn scene for several years but eventually found his way out the door with some questionable career moves. With nowhere else to go, he begs and pleads his way into crashing with his former pornstar ex-wife Lexi, who, like him, was a shining star that has fallen back to the ground and lives with her poverty-stricken mother in the middle of nowhere.

Mikey is a guy who always has a plan, but never a way to execute it. He does have a plan to get back to Los Angeles and revitalize his career, but it requires him to reconnect with some characters from his past who hate his guts.

Both literally and metaphorically, "Red Rocket" is a ballsy movie. Baker has always found a fascination with the seedier side of America, which is the side that is often unauthentically portrayed in Hollywood (I'm looking at you "Hillbilly Elegy"). His characters are often complicated and morally ambiguous, such as Halley from "The Florida Project". But Baker doesn't wallow in their pain and use it as a ploy for sympathy (again, looking at you "Hillbilly Elegy"). Instead, he wants us to understand their desperation and see how so many people in this situation can rationalize their actions.

"Red Rocket" doesn't break from that developmental mold when it comes to his supporting characters. In Mikey's journey back to the top, he rekindles with a weed queen that sees her business as a safety net for her family. Lexi and her mother are both addicted to opiates due to her mother's medical condition and the distracting peace that the drugs bring from the painful world.

With these characters on the brink of society, Baker uses their situation to subtly explain the unforeseen popularity of Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election. Characters are often seen slumped at home in their couches with the television set to Fox News and its neverending coverage of the Republican candidate and his "mass appeal". Baker's illustration about the allure of Trump doesn't try to be a grand statement for America itself, which turns out to be a good thing as the message comes together cleaner than the hamfisted ones found in mainstream media.

But while Baker respects his supporting cast, his relationship with Mikey is more complicated. Mikey is the cinematic combination of Dirk Diggler and Howard Ratner. He's a person that you love that you hate and hate that you love. You find yourself intrinsically drawn to him because of his drive and charm. But as the film progresses and Mikey's grand plan comes closer into view, your attitude towards him starts to waver.

Much of that emotional response comes from Simon Rex's brilliant performance, whose most prominent role up until now has been a recurring supporting part in the "Scary Movie" franchise and some pornographic solo scenes in a series of straight-to-video gay porn releases. Almost as if he has lived the life of Mikey throughout stretches of his career, Rex seems to instinctively know how to play this type of sleazy charmer.

While it does contain perfect casting, "Red Rocket" is not a perfect movie as a whole. With a runtime of 124 minutes, the film contains enough material for a tighter 90-minute story. The middle hour is the victim of this bloatedness, with long stretches given for light material. Still, the overly fatty meat on this movie's bones does give Rex and the cast more than enough to chew on, resulting in an emotional rollercoaster that couldn't be replicated by bigger productions.

Slotting in nicely with Baker's filmography and that of distributor A24, "Red Rocket" is one hell of a ride from beginning to end. There may be some potholes along the way, but they're not enough to stop this film from reaching its satisfying destination.

Red Rocket

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 6/10 · 6 January 2022]

6/10 - Simon Rex proves that he is certainly an actor capable of drama films and someone to take seriously, but as the credits abruptly began to roll, I could not help but ponder what the meaning of the film was and why I spent over 2 hours investing in it.

Red Rocket

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 15 February 2022]

Director Sean Baker follows up The Florida Project with a more darker comedy Red Rocket.

It is another film with several amateur actors and characters living in the lower end of the socio economic scale..

Set in 2016 in the background of the Presidential election campaign. Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) is a washed up porn star who had been turfed out from LA and is returning home to a small town in Texas.

Mickey needs to get back with his ex wife Lexi or he will be homeless. She initially does not want him but Mickey manages to worm his way into the house and promises to pay his way. His mother in law is happy with that.

Unable to find a regular job, Mickey is selling weed to earn a living and skim a bit on the side.

The amoral Mickey sees a way back to the big time in Hollywood when he comes across pretty 17 year old Strawberry who works in a donut shop. Mickey is taken in by Strawberry and thinks she is a natural porn star.

Hoping to be her agent and manager. Mickey plans to manipulate Strawberry to a life of porn. First by making her fall in love with him.

Simon Rex certainly turns up the dial and energy as Mickey. Ever optimistic, charming, lying and scheming. In short a parasitic hustler. He is a born survivor who only cares about himself and getting ahead at the expense of others. The parallels to Donald Trump are obvious.

Red Rocket has a warped charm about it. You never once root for Mickey, feel appalled that he is hoping to get rich by grooming a young woman into porn. Even their affair is icky but legal in Texas. The age of consent there is 17.

I got some gratification when his plans went awry as many in the neighbourhood were on to him. I doubt Mickey will ever not be narcissistic.

Phenomenal

[Movi3DO · 9/10 · 29 December 2021]

I looked up Red Rocket on Urban Dictionary and hahaha isn't that an accurate movie title.

Man oh man Sean Baker, you are quite something. Just like Florida Project, this was a gorgeous and phenomenal movie.

Simon Rex was a force to be reckon with. There wasn't any moment where I was bored with the guy. The dialogues along with his incredible charisma propelled the pace of this movie to become exciting and a bit anxiety-filling. Even more, he made what already a great script more investing.

The cinematography again was out of this world. A poor neighborhood in Texas somehow looked like a dream world.

Again, Sean Baker used the bizarre colors, cute shapes, and isolated locations of the houses to suggest a fantastical and ambiguous interpretation of the story. I think for this part, Red Rocket had a slight edge over Florida Project because the ending in Red Rocket was smoother and made more sense.

Overall, an absolutely magnetic movie. 9.5/10.

good creepy performance

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 7 January 2022]

Washed up porn star Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) returns to his hometown of Texas City which is dominated by an oil refinery. His wife and mother-in-law are not happy for his return. He befriends next door neighbor Lonnie. He starts dealing drugs and other illicit materials to the refinery workers. He takes an interest in donut shop girl Raylee "Strawberry" (Suzanna Son). She is three weeks before her 18th birthday, the perfect age, and possibly Mikey's ticket back into the porn industry.

It is so creepy when Mikey first meets Raylee. The movie does make her more mature as it goes along. This has some funny moments, some sad moments, and a lot of delusional creepiness from Mikey. It's a good creepy performance. The movie is a bit long at over two hours. Lonnie could be cut out if not his car wreck section. The car wreck story could easily transfer to another character if it's really needed. This type of movies need to stay under two hours.

A career highlight for Simon Rex in a so so flick.

[subxerogravity · 8/10 · 13 December 2021]

I watched the movie because the trailer mentioned it would be about porno. Then as I watched the movie I realized; the trailer did not say it was going to be about porno it just said it was about a porn star.

It's kinda funny cause if I'm not mistaken, the movie's lead, Simon Rex had a promising career as one of the icons of an MTV generation until he got caught in a porn scandal of his own. I feel like that may have had something to do with director, Sean Baker picking Rex and I also think this had something to do with Rex being so good as Mike, a male porn star with a long career filled with many highs and glories, but fell apart really fast and with nothing to fall back on he comes back to a place he never thought he come back to because he had no choice.

As a movie, I can compare Red Rocket to a roller-coaster ride. It's a nice exciting climb all the way to the top and when it starts going down its fun, but the overall free fall is actually lackluster.

The problem here is that the movie is a character piece. This film relies heavily on Simon Rex playing Mike and our focus on who is character is, to the point that the story being told is sacrificed for it. The importance of the movie is watching Rex play this character, and in that portrait of the character we got a completed movie, but the way the story was laid out. It does not feel complete.

I do love the rawness of the film. Rex is the only actor I know by name and the fact that I know him at all as an actor ages me. It's possible that other actors in this movie did things I'm unfamiliar with but as far as I'm concern it looks like Sean Baker just used the random folks, he found in the small Texas town this movie's about.

Even if I'm a bit iffy about how the story stops short, I'm satisfied with this movie because it was an interesting story that stayed interesting from beginning to end.

Red Hering

[alex_with_a_P · 6/10 · 11 March 2023]

Red Rocket is a low-key comedy movie. I have to admit that I went in with the wrong expectations, thinking it would be a comedy in a classical sense, so I probably judge it a bit harsher than it deserves. It actually falls more into the category drama.

The casting is excellent, none of the persons feel like actors. And Simon Rex in particular is well-cast, since we know him mostly as the goofy but love-able guy. It seems as if he reprises this familiar role at first but the movie slowly peels off his layers. By the end of the movie, we know much more about this character than we care to know. The movie is very slow due to the long running time. But I found the ending very rewarding, in a plot-sense but also in it's catharsis. This guy's life is destined to end up in the same place over and over due to his lack of commitment, honesty, responsibility or unwillingness to learn from mistakes. Sadly I knew a few people like him in my life (always blaming others for their failures and shortcomings) and it kind of made the movie very relatable for me. Another thing I like , was the setting, the vast place that has nothing to offer and if you don't have a car or money you are literally left in the dust by the system. There is a certain sense of abandonment and isolation that really illustrates how the american dream is built upon a lot of these folks whose sole ownership consists of dreams and drugs.

I can say that this film won't be everyone's cup of tea, due to it's topic or nature, but I can't say I wasn't entertained. So it's a mild recommend. In a nutshell it's like a less-exciting and slower-paced Uncut Gems.

Another great film by Sean Baker.

[Opinate · 8/10 · 29 December 2021]

Sean Baker is quickly rising to the top of my favourite directors list. His movies are so quiet and unassuming, yet they linger in my mind for days and days.

He tells stories about real people living in real America that resonate against fluffy films with forced morals and shiny stars who live in perfect houses.

Red Rocket tells the truth of a seedy character who is both charismatic (to those who are naive enough and needy enough to buy into him) and repugnant in his self-serving narcissism.

Not much happens in this film but I was not bored for a second of it. The characters are so well played and well conceived it is riveting.

Bravo Mr. Baker! Please keep making brilliant movies.

Get Away From Old Habits

[stevendbeard · 6/10 · 2 January 2022]

I saw Red Rocket, starring Simon Rex-the Scary Movie movies, Felicity_tv; Bree Elrod-Dark Feed, Shutter Island; Ethan Darbone-this is his first movie and Suzanna Son-this is her second movie with Secret Escort being her first.

This is a story about an ex porn star trying to get his life together and get away from old habits. Simon plays the Texas boy that goes to Los Angeles, California to become a porn entertainer, leaving his wife Bree behind in Texas City, Texas. He does alright for awhile but soon returns to Texas and tells Bree he wants to try and make amends to her and make a go of it with her, again. He starts selling drugs because no one will hire him with his work record. Then, he meets Suzanna working at the local doughnut shop and decides he can turn her into a porn star-she is weeks away from her 18th birthday. Ethan plays Simon's old high school friend that Simon uses for rides. It was filmed in Texas City. FYI: Red Rocket is slang for a dogs' member.

It's rated R for drug use, language and sexual content-including nudity-and has a running time of 2 hours & 10 minutes.

It's interesting seeing the local sites-I'm from Houston-but I wouldn't buy this one on DVD. It would be a good rental.

Terrific

[ethanbresnett · 9/10 · 15 March 2022]

Red Rocket is one of those films that will most likely leave you speechless at the end.

The story is full of drama, very funny, deeply uncomfortable at times, but the central performance from Simon Rex brings everything together perfectly, turning what could have been a very awkward screenplay into something rather spectacular and captivating.

Barely off screen for a second, Rex manages to bring a certain amount of charm to what is a truly reprehensible character, in a way that only the most accomplished of actors can do. Suzanna Son matches him perfectly and gives a terrific performance. Without these great performances this film would have completely fallen apart, but not a single cast member was out of place.

Sean Baker's direction is excellent. It has such an arty feel, really demonstrating how low budget films can punch above their weight with a talented director at the helm. The setting was perfect and the style and tone were spot on.

An absolutely terrific film which vastly exceeded my expectations.

I appreciate the effort. But.....

[radhrh · 6/10 · 26 February 2022]

It's great that movies like this can still be made; shot on 16mm, no big name stars, much of the cast aren't even professional actors, very adult themes, almost experimental, risky. However this time the risk doesn't pay off and at 129 minutes it's at least 29 minutes too long. I appreciate that they're going for a naturalistic documentary feel but the plot, such as it is needs a bit more narrative drive. Instead of drive we get narrative drift, the characters just drift along aimlessly and while this is true to life the filmmakers lost track that this is supposed to be entertaining. It's still worth a watch though and although the main protagonist is sketchy af I'd like to see him return. What happened in LA previous to this movie? There's sure to be a great story there.

I'm seeing lots of reviews here claiming that Strawberry is underage and that this is a pedo movie. Complete cobbler's. The age of consent in Texas is 17 which is the characters age. She isn't a virgin either and she's also an experienced cannabis smoker, so not so naive either.

Red Rocket.

[rnixon-15663 · 3/10 · 8 April 2022]

2022 18 Director: Sean Baker Starring: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son, Brenda Deiss (RIP), Brittany Rodriguez, Ethan Darbone, etc.

Mikey Saber is a washed up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone really wants him back. Just as his dysfunctional family seems to be making things work, Mikey meets a young women named Strawberry working the cash register at a local doughnut shop. He falls right back into his old habits. I seriously can't be the only one who thought this was terrible!

The performances from Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son were great. The script was well written. The set design was good with some good plot development and development to certain characters relationships. The set up for the relationship between Mikey and Strawberry was solid and the cast had good chemistry.

However, there was a complete lack of character background into Mikey and any of his relationships, instead a complete over reliance on exposition was used, show us not tell us. The pacing was all over the place, mostly it was painfully slow. There was a complete lack of plot. I don't have a clue why this is labelled as a comedy as I didn't laugh once it was just a full drama for me. The characters were all horrible and unlikeable and whether that was intentional or not it wasn't fun to watch. The cinematography was bland and soulless. The final act was bland and dragged out, and the film had nothing to say and lacked any important or meaningful themes.

Overall, Red Rocket has committed performances from its cast. I must be missing something here as this was a dull, lifeless and forgettable mess of a film that had absolutely nothing worthwhile to say. Watching a film about a horrible person who doesn't change at all and continues to be horrible isn't a compelling story for me, it's the worst film I have seen so far this year.

Overall Score: 31/100.

Simon Rex nailed this role!

[Draysan-Jennings · 6/10 · 28 December 2021]

It was good seeing him in the movies again, he was great in this. It's kind of ironic that he played this part. He was an actual porn star before he became an actor/rapper. If you liked this movie I suggest watching Sean Baker's earlier films. Tangerine and The Florida Project were both really good even though you kinda feel like taking a shower after watching them. Both films are very similar to Red Rocket..Anyways, this was a simple and authentic film with an original storyline and solid supporting cast. I don't necessarily think it will take home any Oscars but I'm sure it will win several other awards. 6 stars.

A porn star playing a porn stark - and so much more

[severindringel · 8/10 · 14 January 2022]

A guy who has only been known as an actor for appearances in the absurd Scary Movie films and got his start in the pornography business provides one of the most brilliant character portrayals of 2021. You can't make it up, but Mr. Indie and A24 darling Sean Baker makes it possible in his new film Red Rocket. Once again, Baker devotes himself to an under-the-radar demographic, and once again he does so with a lot of realism and attention to detail.

The former porn hit Mikey Saber is unemployed and penniless. So he has no choice but to move back in with his estranged wife and her mother in the ghettos of Texas City, who really want nothing more to do with him. But with charm and sex appeal, Mikey manages to settle back in. At the beginning, he also wants to become a better person and is desperately looking for workers. In the end, he finds work with a drug family. Privately, Mikey's life also quickly gets out of hand when he meets an underage girl and immediately spies a way back into his old profession. From what I wrote about the lead actor at the beginning of the review, it sounds as if Simon Rex is playing himself here. That may be partly true, but he does it with so much charisma that I couldn't get enough of this loathsome character. He starts off on a kind of redemption arc, but it quickly becomes clear that Baker probably doesn't believe that such people can change. Because that's exactly what Mikey doesn't do in this film. His actions and statements are despicable, he harms everyone around him, and on top of that he believes he is the greatest hero. All qualities I despise in people. Still, I couldn't get enough of watching Rex ride his bike or run around stark naked with a fake penis to the musical accompaniment of the song "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC. The rest of the cast, largely made up of real residents of the area (which is how Baker casts some of his films) are also great, with Suzanna Son in particular giving a great application letter for the future as Mikey's naive love interest.

This may all sound very crazy and possibly off-putting, but in my opinion it is wildly original. In contrast to The Florida Project, Baker here relies on a mixture of a wide variety of genres, some of which are reminiscent of films like Boogie Nights or Uncut Gems. Red Rocket stressed me out, amused me and made me think. The courage to be explicit also pays off in full, as the film is precisely about people from this industry and with this background. Until the last ten minutes, Red Rocket was on course to become my favourite film of the year already. Unfortunately, Baker dwells too long on uninteresting and one-dimensional characters at the end. The ending is then again really strong and caught me off guard with its ambivalence. Definitely the first surprise of 2022!

Bad ending...

[ilovefoodcoma · 6/10 · 7 January 2022]

Does those nude scenes necessary? The storyline isn't the most interesting. And the ending.... so bad. I felt like I just wasted over two hours. Instead of shooting so many scenes at the donut shop, I would like to see what happen after he brought her to LA. Then that would be interesting.

Hilarious

[wumbi · 9/10 · 1 January 2022]

A whimsical yet realistic portrayal of the american underclass. The first half of it was quite a lot of nothing, luckily I found it hilarious at times. Perhaps its my low sense of humor but I found Mikey's shamelessness to be quite funny and its all consistently there throughout the runtime. Even though the cast aren't all professionals and some of them are first timers, they deliver a great and convincing performances. The characters also have unpretentious motivation and they're easy to understand. While it is a funny movie it is also a very sad story about a character who has a great hope for a better life but she puts all that hope into a messy narcissist that keeps running from his problems. The movie could be much better if everything that happens doesn't happen so easily and there should be more struggle for the main character. And if they polished it a little bit by cutting some unnecessary scenes. Still its Sean's best movie so far, the shots are amazing and its not empty, it has something to say about the places that are in it. It's also very cool to see how effectively Sean does his set up and pay off for the story.

A very flawed yet creative adventure

[omegura · 6/10 · 15 December 2021]

This film's about an *ssh*le who eventually gets what he deserves. However, this *ssh*le has a very eccentric and hilarious personality.

I enjoyed this film. It was very creative, fresh, and a fun theatre experience. However there were a few moments that felt unnecessary and didn't serve any purpose.

The technical aspects of the film were beautifully done. Amazing cinematography and amazing editing and audio work that embellished the comedic moments equally as much as the suspenseful ones. Even the more sexual moments carried a sense of humor because of the editing that put those scenes together.

However, despite the technical moments, story moments that seemed crucial at the time of viewing became obsolete and unnecessary. There were a few times where I questioned why something that had a lot of buildup never went anywhere in the future.

At the same time, there were story elements implemented that were blatantly intended to make the viewer uncomfortable. However, in making me uncomfortable, they also led to me not liking the characters especially in the more intimate moments where I should've been rooting for them.

Pretty nice film overall, but the little elements made it drag and feel incomplete.

I know someone just like this

[deadbull-95171 · 8/10 · 27 December 2023]

I know someone just like this. The same kind of semi-responsible, mainly irresponsible careless/carefree "loser". Except in my friends case, instead of viagra and sex, it's massive alcoholism, and instead or porn, it was a long stint as a stunt-man. As a matter of fact he's supposedly in the process of lurching and staggering to my place right now, for a drunken late nightgame of cards.

All this is to say, I am right at home with this movie. This kind of very likeable fellow absolutely exists, and you can't let yourself get angry, because special behaviors always come with the deal, and you need to be careful, so you don't get sucked into whatever social disaster is always iminent.

Very enjoyable flick.

UGH

[Ripshin · 13 December 2023]

What a waste of time. The film totally collapses during the last thirty minutes.

Granted, it's a pretty grungy film. Nobody to like. I realize "that's" the point, but I finished it, and regretted the decision.

Basically, you should just watch "Boogie Nights." It addresses the porn industry so much more efficiently.

Simon Rex is good in the lead role. He deserves some good parts.

The ending is weird. I honestly have no idea, what actually happened.

The production is low-budget, and technically, handled well.

But overall, the whole thing feels really "empty." I was expecting more nuance.

A disappointment.

a reflection on...

[ops-52535 · 6/10 · 28 December 2021]

The american working class, not a blockbuster for the big movie market, but still okeish considering budget and cast. Mr fox does his trot very well, making this former superfiscial ultrasuper pornstar figure into a comedy, with a knife litterally on his neck all the time.

Some production glitches and abrupt editors misclips bounces you through the plot of hudlum and of the grid personalities, there are...but also some decent caracter acting makes this become like a squid in the bubblebath of fish, youll either get eaten or beaten.

The grumpy old man though have gotten confirmation on how the archtypical american looser is, a sicks stars worth red rocket for the new year festivities from the dump yard of the petrolianized and de- gassed one star state of america, and to all texanolians ,dont take this serious.

Masterpiece

[danielcereto · 10/10 · 12 February 2022]

I really enjoy independent cinema, and I understand it's not for everyone. That's why it's independent and not the usual bluff stuff coming from Hollywood.

Red Rocket is a masterpiece because it's raw, cruel, funny and creepy. All mixed and set in Texas.

Script is good, acting is superb (coming from mostly unknown cast) and the settings are perfect. So, overall a good slice of independent cinema. Don't expect your usual blockbuster here.

Decent, but in the end a missed opportunity

[MovieCriticOnline · 6/10 · 28 December 2021]

Decent but in the end a missed opportunity that Sean Baker will hopefully learn from going forward.

Sean Baker is definitely one of the best indie filmmakers out there in terms of style and authenticity. He still has a way to go, but I appreciate his efforts and approach to filmmaking.

Simon Rex plays a washed-up adult entertainer going back to his estranged wife to live after a bunch of mishaps where he meets Strawbetter played by Suzanna Son.

The good thing about Red Rocket is that it's a simple but effective story that feels very real with real people and places.

I would recommend this film and it's probably Baker's best film so far, but like all his other films it's not without some issues. The main issue is it's too long, so Baker needs to hire an editor and not edit himself as he hasn't learned to cut the unnecessary fat yet likely due to being too married to what he shoots during production. Unlike the Florida Project which was also good, but too long, Red Rocket does move quicker because he keeps the scenes much shorter and snappy, which helps the pacing, but in the end, it could still be cut 20 minutes from much of the repetitive scenes and shots.

I also think the story could have been improved with better focus. There were a tad too many side characters and stories that were introduced but never really went anywhere. For example, it took too long to get to the Strawberry story.

One of the aspects I like about Baker's style is the naturalistic approach by using non-actors, but that is also part of the issue. All his movies feature non-actors, but their issue is the lack of being "in the moment." This is an issue with non-actors in general. They almost seem like they are looking into the camera. The best way I can explain it is when someone knows they are being filmed they become camera aware and their body language gives off their awareness. That isn't there with experienced professional actors who can get rid of that awareness and stay in the moment so they don't look like they break the fourth wall. There is just a certain amount of levity that inexperienced actors bring. I've seen it too many times on sets when unprofessional actors "act" they are on the verge of laughing and sometimes do laugh while in the scene. In other words, they can't act.

Are they huge issues? Kinda, but if Baker got rid of that in his films, they would be even better.

I didn't like the turn of events with the truck accident at all. Seemed too random and didn't fit the rest of the theme of the movie. It was an unnecessary plot twist and ruined the story, which should have focused on Mikey and Strawberry and the estranged wife and mom. I just felt like it was thrown in there to add additional drama, but it was so random it didn't match the film. It could have been cut from the film and it wouldn't have lost a beat.

The same goes on for the ending. Just another random turn of events that didn't feel truthful. It literally made no sense and was too forced. So there were too many loose ends for the unnecessary side stories that never came into fruition and the story that mattered (Strawberry) never really materialized, so it was a missed opportunity.

I'm also a bit iffy about Simon Rex. He played it a bit too comedic like everything was a joke. It was slight, but it was still noticeable to me so a better casting choice like Caleb Landry Jones would have served the movie better.

Small, but the framing of some of the shots were weird. The actors' heads were cut off or the composition was discombobulated. E.g. You see one actor's face and the other actor's nose in the shot.

I think the biggest story problem that was never reconciled was the fact that they never gave a really good reason why Mikey was broke and down on his luck because throughout the movie he said could make 1000s doing adult films with a girl. There was never a good explanation why he couldn't just have found anyone to do that with. Why was Strawberry the only one? I just think the story wasn't thought through well enough which is why this is a missed opportunity for a better film than what we got.

In the end, I think the film would have worked much better if Mikey was a local loser, not an established/washed-up adult actor, who dreamed big to become an adult star and convinced Strawberry into doing it creating even more problems with his estranged wife.

I would recommend it, but with the foregoing caveats.

5 stars normally, but 6 for Baker's efforts simply supporting indie filmmakers. 8 if the above issues weren't there.

Not interesting

[geister_faust · 3/10 · 8 February 2022]

In the beginning of the movie our main character would talk about his recent adventures in LA and how he ended up being in Texas, while his interlocutors are being extremely disinterested. This scene is the moment where you could easily decide, is it worth watching further: unless you're impressed with his backstory, there's no sense in continuing.

Story is not worth telling, camerawork is nondescript and unimaginative, characters are flat and full of stereotypes, locations are not really meaningful either.

Red Rocket Is A Simple Film That Refuses To Be Rudimentary

[tcnuccb · 25 May 2022]

Red Rocket brings forward an incredibly well written screenplay, paired with intriguing filmmaking. Sean Baker's directing is continuously original and each shot is approached with a unique vision and maximum effort. The performances from all are quite strong, however, Simon Rex in the lead far exceeded expectations and placed himself amongst some elite talent with his abilities. The MVP of this film is undoubtedly DP Drew Daniels, who managed to find beauty in otherwise generally drab scenery consistently. Perhaps the films largest drawback is the lack of ability the viewer has to sympathize with the protagonist, who continually has us questioning his morale compass. Red Rocket is a simple film, that refuses to be rudimentary by taking risks and being creative.