Tangerine (2015) User Reviews (114)

friends and family on an iphone

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 13 June 2015]

Greetings again from the darkness. It's hard to imagine a better choice for opening night of the 4th annual Oak Cliff Film Festival. After all, this year's theme is the "No Wave Movement" of the late 1970's, and writer/director Sean Baker's most recent film (and a Sundance favorite) is the perfect complement. Co-written with Chris Bergoch and filmed entirely on iPhone 5s' (with cinematic apps), this gritty, no-frills film spotlights real problems of real people on a real day … on the real streets of Hollywood and Los Angeles.

Personally, I haven't seen many (ok, any) films that focus on two transgender prostitutes (both, persons of color). However, the exciting thing is that the story pays little attention to the vocation of Sin-Dee and Alexandra, and is more a story of friendship, heartbreak, and the sub-cultures that make up a particular community of the L.A. area. This is not the glitzy/celebrity side of Hollywood, but rather the underbelly of a melting pot city where the paths of transgender streetwalkers and Armenian cab drivers intersect.

Sin-Dee (Kiki Kitana Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) are opposite personality types, but clearly good friends as they chat while splitting a donut in the opening scene. We quickly learn that Sin-Dee is fresh out of jail after serving 28 days, and she doesn't react well to Alexandra's news that their pimp (and Sin-Dee's boyfriend) Chester (James Ransone) has been cheating with a "natural" woman (played by a very talented Mickey O'Hagan) while she was incarcerated. A woman scorned provides the energy of the film as Sin-Dee tracks down this mysterious girl whose name starts with a "D". It also provides new meaning for dragging someone all over town (kudos to Ms O'Hagan for the physicality and bruises).

The sassy banter is filled with brutal put-downs and smart-ass comebacks, as the three actresses play off each other as if loaded with short-fused fireworks. The story with taxi driver Razmik (Karren Karagulian) shows a family man drawn like a magnet to the world of Sin-Dee and Alexandra … he even finds a reason to skip out on Christmas Eve dinner with his family. His mother-in-law Ashken (Alla Tumanian) is most suspicious of his activities, and that leads to the frenetic and hilarious confrontation at Donut Time.

Many individual scenes are funny, while others are tension-filled. There is even a scene in Razmik's cab featuring veteran actor Clu Gulager ("The Virginian"), and Armenian celebrity Arsen Grigoryan plays another taxi driver. The acting throughout is strong and humanistic, and the iPhone photography is shocking in its depth and range … we would never suspect the "equipment" being used. This approach allowed for the organic feel of the street – think of Banksy making a movie … clandestine with no sets (or permits). Baker's style is reminiscent of John Waters and John Cassavetes, and that's quite a compliment. The film also features the pitch perfect description of Los Angeles: "a beautifully wrapped lie".

Art in 2015: This is why we make and watch films

[rkillian922 · 8/10 · 8 June 2015]

Right up front let me tell you this is not an easy film to watch. It is vulgar, raw, painful and shocking at times. It is, however, going to stand for some time as this generation's example of how to write a story, tell a story, and create characters that are not only believable, but memorable. Tangerine, the gift we get on Christmas in America, is a story about people who live in constant chaos, in an unsafe and harsh America where not everyone get's sterling silver from the man in the North pole. It is a visually stunning achievement and reminds us that those of us who make art are first and foremost storytellers. Bravo to those who were brave enough to produce, act in and make this story come to our movie screens. Watch out Hollywood, the next generation of artists making movies has arrived.

Surprisingly entertaining . . . and more than a bit all too real

[charles000 · 8/10 · 13 December 2015]

A fabulous character study, gritty slice of life, walk on the wild side comedy . . . any variety of possible descriptions come to mind.

But no matter how one tries to frame this uniquely crafted work, despite its very low production budget (this entire movie was filmed with iPhones?), it's still surprisingly entertaining.

I could try to encapsulate the drama (and yes, drama, as in on the street, way over the edge drama) between the two main characters, and the meandering ill fated adventures that sprout up along the way, but actually, better that you simply watch and experience for yourself.

No spoilers, not even a hint . . . but what I will suggest here, the time spent to watch this will not be wasted.

Kudos to a very clever bit of street drama compressed into a simple but engaging journey into and through a collection of lives that are all too real out in certain sections of town, which in this case happens to be West Hollywood.

I was 1st ever graveyard employee at donut shop in 85'. ACCURATE!

[paulrjacobs · 11 September 2017]

You might not think this is about the movie TANGERINE (2015), oh but it is! A case study in fact...a personal one.

Oh the memories of that corner 'aquarium in the night.I served the all male prostitutes...well 90%, donuts and coffee and soda all night. And a lot of OJ!I was an 18 year old guitar student at GIT straight from the Columbus, Ohio suburbs/farms out my backyard, and honestly an uptight kid confused about my sexuality. Who knows, I had a strange mix of guys at the counter of that newly opened 'Donut Stop' back in 1985. This was the second Donut Stop- at Santa Monica blvd. and Highland ave., Hollywood, CA. It was the ' prostitute shop', and the North Donut Stop was the 'bum shop'. Look, I'm live and let live. As a matter of fact, with an artists brain I enjoyed learning about real life from the hardest livers. Maybe I would need street smarts some day. And boy did I. A 3 year heroin addict a dozen years after. Eh'so goes life. Better now for 15 years, not even caffeine. I do wonder the average lifespan of a bum or a prostitute...in Hollywood. I hope most got out...it sucks being 'a type'.

I came back to Columbus after 5 years in L.A.. My dad died and mom needed me. 10 years after, most Midwestern city life became as hardened as L.A. was then in the 80's. Anyway, at the North store I really got to know the bums... in L.A.

known politely as 'Transients'. I think if you had a car, van, or RV (or lived in tent city) you weren't 'homeless (sad). At the Santa Monica & Highland store (donut shop location in the movie) it was tougher adjusting, but no less interesting. I recall a guy, a later neighbor in fact ( pointing out double entendres at my crotch through the glass when pointing at the 'long john' donuts in the case. " gimme' that biggest long john". This guy had to be the inspiration for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force fat guy named Carl.

No sooner would I return a hateful, but naively confused stare into the glazed eyes of a guy my age who just scored the money for that donut from having some kind of sex 5 minutes before, often with 'Carl', did my only ally, the bitter old prejudiced 'the baker Ray' with his faded green tattooed 13 on his ear[ this is 85' and 86' before tattoos were common],he would walk out with his back turned to the customer(I know, long sentence/:) and refill his Sprite at the dispenser, with revolver showing clearly sticking out of the back of his baker whites uniform in view of this customer of his dislike. I too wore the loose white uniform. I was pretty decent looking...plenty flirted with me because I was shy...oh' god. You know, I'm totally heterosexual, but I think I maybe, as human to human, was gay in a past life or will be in a future one. Ah' that corner! Confused the hell out of me, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

A fan, definitely

[labng · 7/10 · 4 October 2019]

This was just a complete free for all! I didn't know about this film until watching The Florida Project. This was moving in just the same way. I liked these people and I disliked these people. I was fully invested. Point being, I cared about them as PEOPLE. I saw Starlet as well a while ago, but it didn't grab me like this and Florida. More, please.

What An Indie Film Should Be

[mary-228-456254 · 9/10 · 1 February 2015]

I saw this Premiere at Sundance 2015. This is what a Sundance film should be. You start watching at a distance. The subject matter of prostitutes, pimps, drugs, sex, homosexuality and gender roles is foreign to most and even repulsive to some. But that's the beauty. It draws you in...you start to care about the characters, you start to laugh with them. You then admire their pluck. You feel their frustration, sadness and even shame. Then you identify with it. Then, eventually, you admire it. Finally, what you see are human beings with the same, or even better, values that you have. The music is cutting edge street sound that propels you along the LA sidewalks and, combined with the colors of the film (i.e. tangerine), it pulls you into the brash and jolting life on some of the worse streets of LA. The power of the film is that, in powerful ways, that street community seems a better home than you have in safe suburbia. This is what indie film should be.....it takes a different subject matter, perhaps something disturbing, draws you in and changes the way you view the world. Forever. Not just during the course of a film festival.

Even better, this film was shot entirely on three iPhone 5s. At the Premiere, the audience audibly gasped when this fact rolled on screen during the credits. Another thing an indie film should do...change the way you look at how films can be made. (I'm actually going to try to make a film this summer...seriously).

This film should have won the Sundance NEXT award....and probably would have if it was not by audience vote. This is not mainstream..it is an independent film. This film will change your life.

P.S. Both female leads were powerful and legitimate, in every sense of that word. But Kiki Kitana Rodriguez has screen presence and karma enough to fill Dodger Stadium one hundred times over. I could watch her for yours, and hope we all have a chance to do so again.

90 minutes with annoying people

[punisherversion1 · 6/10 · 15 January 2018]

Tangerine: Directed by Sean Baker and written by Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch

I decided to check this movie as I'm interested in The Florida Project. I have not had the chance to see that movie but have never seen any of this director's work. The reviews mention to see Tangerine if you can as well.

I really shouldn't have though. This movie tried to bring little bits of humanity to characters who typically don't have that. Those moments are few and far between. For me, it was like spending 90 minutes in the company of folks who frequent the store I work at. These people grate my nerves constantly and I have a hard time feeling for people like this who put themselves in bad situations. You might be able to mock them for a bit of a laugh.

This is a day in the life type of film where you're spending time with two transgender prostitutes who are best friends, one is preparing to performance in her own show and the other is fresh out of jail looking for the woman she believes is cheating with her boyfriend/pimp. Yeah sounds like wonderful people but there are still human beings. They have fears. They feel betrayal just like anyone else. I did like this aspect of the movie. I warmed up to these impulsive chaotic people. But it is rough going.

This was shot on Iphones and it shows. It's impressive in that it didn't make me motion sick but a lot of the scenes had a fish eye appearance to it. Everything also had an orange tint to it. That might just be the sun itself in these scenes but it worked for this movie.

The performances are fine. I found the characters obnoxious. It made sitting through the movie a slog. I hope The Florida Project is different and maybe I can warm up to the characters a little faster than I did here. This movie is not for everyone. I appreciate the quick pace of the editing and some of the camera work. I also appreciated what they were trying to do here. I give this film a C.

A brilliant indie film well worth watching

[jen-lynx · 9/10 · 4 February 2016]

Aside from being a thoroughly enjoyable film, "Tangerine" has the remarkable distinction of being shot entirely on an iPhone 5S. How such a feat was accomplished is beyond me for while it does appear to be a low budget piece it looks fantastic. Furthermore, maybe because of the unique film techniques, it feels very real, like you were just tagging along for the duration.

The story takes place over the course of about 12 hours, following the lives of two transgender prostitutes on Christmas Eve. Sin-dee has just been released from jail, and her best friend Alexandra lets slip that her boyfriend/pimp picked up with another women while she was away. This sets Sin-dee off on a rampage as she scours the L.A. streets looking for the new girl and her cheating man. The story weaves from Sin-dee's quest, to Alexandra picking up a few tricks throughout the day, and subtly follows a cab driver who has a thing for Sin-dee, while his family works out his proclivities. Through all of this, the film is not condescending, preachy, or insensitive to anyone. It is brutally honest, hilarious at times, realistic, even touching and sad.

I loved this movie. From the colorful characters to the perfect pacing to the creative cinematography, "Tangerine" is one film every lover of cinema should watch at least once. Oh, and a super soundtrack! I hope to add it to the collection one day.

Bleak, funny... and chaotic.

[garethcrook · 6/10 · 4 January 2022]

The first thing everyone always says about Tangerine is that it's shot on iPhones. That is true. IPhone 5's, three of them, with an added lens and a stabilising gimble. It's not a gimmick though. Take that fact away and this is still an impressive film. Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is a transgendered prostitute, who's just found out that her pimp boyfriend Chester (James Ransome) is cheating on her. Taking to the sunkissed and dirty streets of LA, she's on a mission with friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) to sort Chester and Dinah (Mickey O'Hagan) the girl he's cheating with out. Although cut conventionally, a lot of it feels very real, honest, unscripted. The choice of kit will certainly help with this, but it doesn't feel cheap. Apparently it's Christmas Eve and Alexandra is planning an event. A event Sin-Dee needs to be at, but her somewhat aggressive sleuthing is getting in the way. Christmas in LA looks weird to me, not a hint of snow and certainly not the way this film is graded. Everything is bathed in burnt orange... hence the name. I want to like it more than I do, maybe because I admire what it's trying to do and how it's doing it, but it's not an easy watch. It plods a little in places, despite the larger than life characters and a pulsating score and Sin-Dee isn't the easiest character to like. That said, although I wouldn't categorise this as enjoyable, it's still an interesting film. Funny, bleak and chaotic.

Best movie I've seen this year...

[venusboys3 · 9/10 · 2 August 2016]

My friend put me on to this, with no mention at all of what it was about... so totally unexpected. What I really liked about Tangerine is that it didn't pull its punches. None of the main characters are 100% hero or villain... everyone is sad/funny/cruel/kind at some point. I can't say I'd want to hang out with ANYONE in this movie... but they're all presented as complex characters, people, which is great.

I can see why John Waters liked it, it does remind me a bit of his earlier films with their various crazed characters in crazed worlds... though Tangerine feels much more real and gritty than any of those Waters films, which were heavy with fantasy.

Anyway, it's excellent... I hope it garners a huge following and we start getting more films like this and less superhero trash.

Donut time

[deastman_uk · 6/10 · 16 December 2015]

This is a very engaging small film, with the production quality and feel of something like Kevin Smiths Clerks. (In fact there are scenes based around a Donut shop that will definitely take you to the Askewniverse)

With the rise of the structured-reality series, this type of dramatic slice of life filming ends up seeming much more 'real' despite, I assume, being script driven.

Initially comprehending a sentence of the high energy trans sex worker LA slang is somewhat tricky, but the motivations of the ensemble soon work themselves out, and by the final scenes, the audience is fully engaged emotionally.

This was a nice reminder of the golden age of Indie films of the eighties and nineties, which the comic book invasion has not fully defeated.

Raw

[nm4922197 · 9/10 · 22 August 2015]

Glad to see the theater packed for this one. The way it was shot feels like a documentary, but the raw subject matter and unpolished acting were in-your-face in the best ways. There's no time to judge these fast-moving, trans-gendered prostitutes, and why would you? Everything's f***ed up. Family people are not what they seem, everyone's motivations are unique, people are desperate for acceptance, affection and enough money to make it to the next day. They play the hands they're dealt, like all of us, spinning around and around, trying to get answers and making stupid mistakes along the way. In the end, it's still a friendship movie, not a package with a shiny, redeeming bow. Sick of safe, sanitized, statistical NPR? Here's your movie.

Tangerine

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 8 January 2017]

I saw this film mentioned on Film 2015, and then it was one of the newest entries in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it looked and sounded like a really interesting film, especially how it was made, so I had to watch it. Basically Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is a transgender prostitute who has just been released from a 28-day prison sentence, it is Christmas Eve and she meets with her fellow transgender prostitute and friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) in a donut shop in Hollywood. During their conversation, Alexandra accidentally reveals that Sin-Dee's boyfriend and pimp Chester (James Ransone) has been cheating on her with a woman of cisgender (their gender identity corresponds with their biological sex). Sin-Dee is angry and storms out to search the neighbourhood for Chester and the woman, while Alexandra hands out flyers for her evening musical performance, she also argues with a client who refuses to pay for business, the police break up this argument. Armenian cab driver Razmik (Karren Karagulian) is regularly looking for sex workers, he picks up a prostitute, but ejects her when discovering she is not transgender, he later meets Alexandra who gives him fellatio in a car wash, he then returns home for Christmas dinner with the family. Sin-Dee finds the woman she is looking for, Dinah (Mickey O'Hagan), at a motel brothel, she drags her around town to continue searching for Chester, Dinah continually taunts her along the way, but they stop to watch Alexandra at the venue to perform her music show, no other customers have arrived, it is a mostly empty bar. Razmik leaves his family to watch Alexandra's performance, claiming he is working, but he finds out he is too late, while he searches for Sin-Dee, Razmik's mother-in-law follows him. Sin-Dee, Alexandra and Dinah go to the donut shop, Chester arrives and a confrontation takes place, he insists Dinah means nothing to him, Razmik arrives, followed by his mother-in-law, who calls his wife, Razmik's wife arrives with their infant daughter, and the arguing gets more heated, until the donut shop owner calls the police. Razmik and his family return home, Dinah walks back to the brothel, but there is no room for her, outside the donut shop Chester tells Sin-Dee he also slept with Alexandra, upset Sin-Dee leaves and tries to pick up clients, but she gets urine thrown on her verbal abuse, in the end Sin-Dee and Alexandra go to a laundry service to clean up, and they seem to make amends. Also starring Alla Tumanian as Ashken, Luiza Nersisyan as Yeva, Arsen Grigoryan as Karo, Ian Edwards as Nash, Clu Gulager as The Cherokee and Ana Foxx as Selena. Rodriguez and Taylor are fantastic as the almost mismatched two black transgender hookers striding up and down to resolve their issues, the script is full of murky and intimate subject matter, there are the odd icky and vulgar moments, but it is also very funny, the characters constantly calling each other "girl" and "bitch" for example, and it is surprisingly charming. But what makes this film really stand out, it is obviously a low-budget venture, and it was all shot with three iPhone 5s smartphones, giving the film both depth in its observation and a reality show kind of feel, it should be mentioned also that the title relates to the colour of the Los Angeles sky at sunset, overall it is a most engaging and enjoyable comedy drama. Very good!

Not even close to justifying all the hype

[wricketts · 1/10 · 18 December 2015]

Someone is going to have to explain to me why this film is on so many "Best of 2015" lists (assuming of course that putting it on those lists wasn't just some sort of misguided feint at artistic affirmative action -- and, yes, I realize I speak blasphemy). One of the most ham-handed and poorly realized films I've seen in years. The acting is amateurish, but not in the way that is charming. Rather, it's amateurish in that way that makes you cringe. The dialogue is dreadful, and the plot is essentially non-existent. Many, many issues are depicted, but none of them is explored because, in fact, this is a film entirely without insight. I know Tangerine is a first of sorts: a film about a certain kind of trans life and with trans actors, but I cannot for the life of me understand what makes it a good movie, never mind one of the best. It took us two nights to finish watching this film (and it only lasts 88 minutes), and we only persisted because of all the rave reviews. You could save yourself the trouble and not miss much.

Tangerine Works Because Its Heart Is At The Right Place! Definitely Worth A Shot!

[CinemaClown · 2 December 2015]

Covering a day in the lives of two trans sex workers, Tangerine is an offbeat surprise that's hilarious, heartwarming & heartbreaking, is bursting with energy & style from start to finish, and offers an unusual glimpse into Los Angeles' sex-trade subculture. As unconventional in content as it is in the way it's shot, this is one comedy that defies everything in its path.

The story of Tangerine unfolds on Christmas Eve and follows two trans sex workers who are also best friends. One of them is Alexandra who's inviting friends all over the town to attend the gig she has secured for the night. The other is Sin-Dee Rella who just tears through the town to find her pimp boyfriend after learning that he cheated on her while she was locked up.

Written & directed by Sean S. Baker, Tangerine is crafted with rigour & passion and shatters many filmmaking norms over the course of its runtime. Filmed entirely on iPhone with more enhancements coming from easily available apps, the film gleams with colour filters & warm palette that gives it a distinctive look. And although the first act requires some getting used to, it only gets funnier as the plot progresses.

While the primary focus is on Sin-Dee & Alexandra, the subplots related to other characters connected to these two are also interesting in their own ways. The film also breaks tradition in the casting department by employing two transgender actresses in the given roles & both of them deliver fantastic performances, with Mya Taylor playing her character in a balanced manner while Kitana Kiki Rodrigues going full crazy as Sin-Dee.

On an overall scale, Tangerine is an inventive, distinctive & hysterical piece of indie cinema that allows its audience to settle down in the first act after which it instantly changes gears, gets more wild & vibrant with every passing minute, goes absolutely bonkers in its final act when all its different threads combine together to form a single whole, and finally concludes with a touching ode to friendship. In a sentence, Tangerine works because its heart is at the right place. Definitely worth a shot.

TANGERINE will soon be enshrined in the film history as the first universally-acclaimed feature shot entirely with iPhone

[lasttimeisaw · 7/10 · 5 December 2015]

Believe me, TANGERINE will soon be enshrined in the film history as the first universally-acclaimed feature shot entirely with iPhone, a potent testimony that film now has entered into a new era, where literally everyone who owns a cellphone can be a film-maker, whether the upcoming surplus will rejuvenate the vitality of this art form or swamp us with too many jerry-built indie-trashes, one thing is certain, the change is inevitable, and TANGERINE is the lucky landmark.

Another distinctive feat of indie geek Sean Baker's fifth feature is its protagonists, adheres to his interest in lower-class objects, TANGERINE is about street trans-hustlers in L.A., a sub-cultural blind-spot for most audience. The plot sets on the Christmas Eve and revolves around two young black trans-prostitutes, Sin-Dee (Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Taylor), the former is newly released from jail for covering up her pimp-boyfriend Chester (Ransone), only to discover from the latter that Chester has been hooked up with a white tart Dinah (O'Hagan) during her one-month long prison time. A hot-headed Sin-Dee resolves to find Dinah and Chester, questions them face-to- face. Alexandra is tagged along at first, but soon parts company since she has an important gig to attend, she is trying to be a singer. Eventually they meet again in the night but things will go haywire, their friendship must endure the test of an ugly truth.

In Baker's book, Sin-Dee and Alexandra constitute a duet of love and dream, two things we cherish the most, but become so unattainable for their line-of-business, yet, even in the dimmest corner, there are anomalies like these two, on the surface, Sin-Dee is a crude spitfire, unrealistically naive, and unpleasantly aggressive, whereas Alexandra is less emotional, more elusive, yet, her manly side can effortlessly roar with lighter when she engages in a relentless grapple with a stingy client; but deep inside, they are two ordinary souls trying to fight for their lives, neither dishearten nor delusional, life may be hard for them, but their friendship bonds them together, a touching ending where both take off their wigs and reveal their biological appearance, that moment, a heartfelt understanding transcends all their exterior forms, no matter how singular they are, just as two tender human beings, they deserve our compassion and respect, it is a masterstroke rising from this gimmicky fare.

A less-enticing sub-plot is about a trans-addicted taxi driver Razmik (Karagulian), an Armenian immigrant, a closeted-family man, who is obsessed with Sin-Dee and his secret will be disclosed by his hell-bent mother-in-law Ashken (Tumanian) on the Christmas Eve in the Donut Time. Novelty-wise, it is nothing we haven't seen here, but Razmik's predilection is a head-scratcher to be categorised.

Under the natural Californian light and the hazy halo of streetlight, the cheap outlook surprisingly aligns with the narrative, Taylor and Rodriguez both shine in their contrasting (drama queen Vs. ladylike decency) but mesmerising performances, especially Taylor, whose rendition of "TOYLAND" is simply phenomenal. Also I must name-check James Ransone, whose riffraff sleaziness is right on the nose. Heading towards the awards season, hopefully this critic-darling can stir some ripples in injecting a certain fresh air into the conservative Academy systems, even if it doesn't, it has already achieved something extraordinary in its own sphere, one of the most topical film of 2015, is beyond any doubt.

A real gem

[MOscarbradley · 9/10 · 22 April 2019]

Sean Baker's 2015 film "Tangerine" is an absolute gem. It's fiction but it could be fact as we get a glimpse of the seamier side of LA on Christmas Eve as Baker follows a couple of transgender hookers aound, one of whom is looking for her unfaithful boyfriend. Then there's the Armenian cabdriver just looking for what, in less enlightened times, might have been called, 'a chick with a dick'. It's funny but mostly it's sad and, as one of the hookers, has in Mya Taylor, a real find. It's not an easy watch but it established Baker as a director of considerable promise, a promise effortlessly fulfilled with "The Florida Project", making him one of the most exciting talents in the independent section right now.

On the Christmas eve in the LA streets.

[Reno-Rangan · 7/10 · 4 October 2016]

Just one day event based theme and brilliantly made film. This film was made using iPhone 5s and this is not some film school project. The quality was really top notch, with great performances by all who involved in. I have never seen such perfectly rendered transgender story. I mean no offense, but it looked so real. Hats off to the director, writer and the actors.

Last year, there were some talks about this film's chances at the Oscars, but in the end it did not make. So after that I kind of lost interest in it, but now I had an opportunity to watch and I liked it very much. How a simple story and its simple characters developed were the highlights. You can't predict this stuff, because you won't know what comes after the each twist.

Most of the film takes place on the evening time, so that colour of the sky is what the title represents. I don't think anybody would dislike this film. It was slow, but short and sweet. One of the best films from the 2015. You much choose this to watch for its uniqueness in the filmmaking and the storytelling. In addition to that, it also entertains, so there's your reason to go for it.

7/10

City Of Night for millennial

[pazu7 · 10/10 · 28 February 2016]

Crazy genius. Gutter Shakespeare.Unflinching. Unapologetic. Clever. Raw. Authentic. Moving. Unpredictable. Unexpected tender moments in the midst of insane street life. Tangerine is immediately captivating, establishes the setting and then drags you non-stop into the chaotic life of people we rarely see depicted as more than disposable comic relief. No cheap shots or hackneyed caricatures. Living in L.A. since the 80s, I knew every spot they filmed. It was strange seeing those places depicted like they really are. Like watching a documentary. Just too real. The performances. The characters. This is genius. I mean that. City Of Night for the millennial generation. Amazing. But not for the judgmental. Too real. Deserves more than 10 stars but that's all I can give it. Bravo.

Stage play in LA

[kevin c · 6/10 · 12 May 2019]

Movie night with Iris.

Yes Tangerine was shot on an iPhone, but i marveled more at the visuals, soundtrack, humour and pathos.

The film is shot in an LA sunset glow. It is frequently very funny but in the City of Angels its protagonists are all lost souls. It's freewheeling, improvisatory style stumbles to the donut shop finale. This is spectacular, along the lines of a John Osborne stage climax.

Never in a Million Years Did I Think This Would Be One of My Favorite Movies of the Year

[evanston_dad · 10/10 · 29 January 2016]

"Tangerine" is easily one of if not the biggest pleasant surprises of the past movie year. At first, I didn't think I was going to be able to get into the film's vibe. Watching a couple of transvestite prostitutes with depressing lives charging around L.A. throwing tantrums and telling everyone what's what isn't fun for very long, and it seemed that that's all the film would be. But as it develops, and the characters start to develop with it, I sort of fell in love with the movie and even with the people in it who did nothing but annoy me at first.

As "Tangerine" moves along, the lives of the principal characters cease to seem quite so depressing. They're sad, certainly, and between disease, drugs, and thugs, they're almost certain to come to a bad and quite possibly early end. But what "Tangerine" gets just right -- and what makes it so much more than a goof at the expense of a bunch of caricatures we can feel superior to because we're so much more fortunate than -- is that it respects its characters and its characters respect themselves. There's a certain dignity in the way the characters embodied by Katana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor go about their lives completely true to who they are. They don't apologize or ask for sympathy. This is what prevents their lives from being depressing. They and the people around them live on the fringes of a society that doesn't know what to do with people it can't easily label, so they create their own place in it. And in the character of the outwardly conventional cab driver who's smitten with the "girls" and the world they come from, the movie suggests that there are many out there who force themselves into categories that don't completely fit them and admire the kind of freedom in which those who don't conform live, even as they would likely condemn them for their behavior.

And I would be remiss if I didn't also mention as part of this review that the movie is at times uproariously funny.

Grade: A+

Almost Great

[ivans536 · 7/10 · 5 March 2019]

Some odd filmmaking choices in the first third of the movie hamper the tempo and immersiveness which is partially fixed in the final act.

The movie is at its weakest when establishing and following the character of Sin-Dee while she is on her warpath. The strange angles & loud dubstep music really make it difficult to establish a connection to a character that is not very sympathetic in the first place.

However when the camera follows her friend Alexandra or Razmik, it's essentially a different, far superior film, which really encapsulates the experience of these marginalised groups of people and shows us their struggles in a sympathetic way (which is the director's specialty if his masterpiece The Florida Project is any indicator).

Liked: -some characters -the culmination and ending

Disliked: -the odd filter choice, especially since it's filmed in a location that has what seems to be the ideal lighting for the aesthetic the filmmakers are going for -Sin-Dee's portion of the film

6.5

Definitely seems like you're watching real people, doing real things!

[Hellmant · 8/10 · 14 January 2016]

'TANGERINE': Four Stars (Out of Five)

Critically acclaimed indie flick; about a transgender prostitute, searching for her boyfriend (a pimp who cheated on her), in Hollywood, on Christmas Eve. The movie was directed by Sean S. Baker, and written by Baker and Chris Bergoch. It stars Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan and James Ransone. The film was made on a budget of just $100,000; and it was shot (entirely) on three iPhone 5s smartphones! It's definitely a well made, and very memorable, movie.

The story takes place on Christmas Eve, 2014; in Hollywood. Sin-Dee Rella (Rodriguez), a transgender sex worker, just got out of prison; after serving a 28-day sentence. She meets another transgender prostitute, her friend Alexandra (Taylor), at a donut shop. Alexandra (accidentally) informs Sin-Dee, that her boyfriend, a pimp named Chester (Ransone), cheated on her; while she was in prison. Sin-Dee goes ballistic, and spends the rest of the day, looking for him; and his new mistress (O'Hagan).

Despite being filmed on iPhones, the movie is surprisingly beautiful at times; especially in it's most poignant, and very subtle, moments! It's dirty, and very disgusting, a lot of the time too; but it's also very moving. The two lead performances are impressive, and they're performed by openly transgender actresses (too); and the supporting cast is all good as well. The movie definitely seems like you're watching real people, doing real things; in a part of life, I'm not familiar with (which makes it all the more fascinating). It's an impressive little film!

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/CoUgbXLzKSQ

some good technical for the production

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 12 August 2016]

Transvestite hooker Sin-Dee Rella gets out of jail. Her friend fellow sex worker Alexandra reveals that her pimp boyfriend Chester has another girl. She goes off looking for Chester and his whore Dinah. Razmik is a cabbie looking for sex with a tranny. He's missing dinner with his conservative Armenian family. When he hears that Sin-Dee is back, he starts looking for her.

This is technically superior when considering its low budget production. Sin-Dee's fierce walks with the pumping music is terrific. Her dragging Dinah around has a tense fun. Razmik getting a girl instead of a tranny is hilarious to me. There is plenty to applaud but I don't find the epic quest to find her boyfriend that compelling. There is a limited amount of tension. It feels like Sin-Dee strutting down the road. It looks more fierce than what's actually happening. There are some good work and I hoped for more compelling writing.

Some might be impressed with this"edgy" and "raw" film but I'm not one of them.

[Ted2012 · 3/10 · 22 January 2016]

Apart from a pretty decent and modern soundtrack, there is very little to like about this film. The film has a plot and content that would make any Sundance film-festival fan drool at how "edgy" and "raw" it is. It's got hookers, drugs, and Hollywood sleaze (because who knew that Hollywood could be so decadent?). The characters are neither funny nor interesting. They are, however, played by quite talented actors who are actually themselves trans-gender. I'am so totally bemused as to why this film is so well acclaimed. If it is only acclaimed because of having play trans-gender people play trans-gender people and for some reason that makes the film automatically good, then I must say, the bar is being set considerably low.