In the opening moments of Sean Baker’s new sex work dramedy Anora, a one-of-a-kind young woman whips her tinsel-speckled hair over her shoulder and flashes her John a beautiful smile. This is Anora (Mikey Madison), the title character of this cinematic rager, and her story is something of an American dream slipping through perfectly manicured fingers. Over the course of a few weeks, the confident stripper becomes entangled in a whirlwind romance with a fresh-faced billionaire, culminating in a fairy tale marriage.
But life is known to throw us curveballs, and there’s some wicked spin on the one that comes Anora’s way in this touching, tragic, and truly exceptional movie. Madison’s performance ushers in the dawn of a new movie star, anchoring Anora in equal parts heart and bite. Ani (as she calls herself) is a powerhouse, and so much of that presence comes directly from the layers and charm Madison gives her.
It’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with the character’s bold nerve and her brash Brooklyn accent. The Scream alum has absolutely electric chemistry with co-star Mark Eydelshteyn, who, in the role of 21-year-old Ivan, comes into Anora’s strip club one fateful night looking for a dancer who speaks Russian. Eydelshteyn’s turn is as much of a breakout as Madison’s, making an impression in several hilariously memorable moments throughout Anora.
He giggles as he trips over a cheeky mix of Russian and English, slides across his kitchen floor Risky Busin.