Red Rocket (2021)

[StatisticalOutlier]

Directed by Sean Baker, who did Tangerine and The Florida Project, and can always be relied upon to bring something new.

Still can't figure out how to post a trailer, but here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfndmy-6e28

This is a wild ride, and Simon Rex as Mikey is a-ma-zing.  I've never had less in common with a human in my life, but I was helpless in his presence--I loved being around him. 

It's also authentic.  Strawberry is fishing around in the refrigerator and asks Mikey if he wants a Coke and he says yes, and she hands him a Big Red.  God bless Texas.

[Browncoat]

Saw this last night, and I hated almost every single character.  They were all a bunch of assholes, and Mikey was the biggest one of all.  I can't believe anyone fell for his bullshit, and mostly I wanted him to be hit by the train.  Especially after he let poor Lonnie take 100% of the blame for the wreck.

I guess Lil and Lexi had his number from the beginning, though they seemed to get sucked in, too.  I did like June.  She was totally bad ass and definitely had Mikey's number.

And I suppose I can make excuses for Strawberry, since she was only 17, and maybe didn't know any better, but damn, girl.  Mikey's what?  35?  40?  Not to mention a lying sack of shit?  I really hope she came to her senses and stayed home and in school.

The dog was pretty, and pretty chill.  I did sort of feel bad for Lonnie's father.  Otherwise, though, they were not a likable bunch.

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 1/19/2022 at 8:01 AM, Browncoat said:

The dog was pretty, and pretty chill.  I did sort of feel bad for Lonnie's father.  Otherwise, though, they were not a likable bunch.

The donut shop lady was likable.  Even though she should have put her foot down and not let Mikey hang out there, but hey, it's Mikey, and like it or not, this is the sort of shit he gets away with because he's got some sort of Mikey hold on even responsible people.

FWIW, I don't think anyone, including the writer/director, would disagree with your assessment of the characters in this movie.  That's what I found so remarkable about it.  I have nothing in common with any of the main characters in this movie, and am generally disgusted by most of their life choices, but I was somehow relating to these aliens on human terms.  It's impressive that Sean Baker can pull that off.

And it made me think, because how can I be drawn to such a horrid, horrid person like Mikey?  I'm a decent judge of character, and he clearly has no character, and yet I didn't/couldn't hate him.  That troubles me.

[Browncoat]

16 minutes ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

The donut shop lady was likable. 

I almost included her in the list of likable -- or at least not horrible -- but I'm not sure I saw enough of her to really make a judgement.  She definitely let Mikey get away with far too much.  

 

[StatisticalOutlier]

48 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

She definitely let Mikey get away with far too much.  

And why did she do that?  Because he's Mikey.  That's what I find so compelling about the movie.

[Browncoat]

2 minutes ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

And why did she do that?  Because he's Mikey.  That's what I find so compelling about the movie.

I'll agree with you on that.  I didn't dislike the movie.  As you say, it was a compelling look into the lives of these horrible people.  But it still beats me why Lil and Lexi even let Mikey in the house in the first place.  I can see why Lonnie was suckered in, but Lil and Lexi should have known better.

[StatisticalOutlier]

1 minute ago, Browncoat said:

But it still beats me why Lil and Lexi even let Mikey in the house in the first place.

Lexi sure tried not to.  She does know better.  But between his charm and persistence, she didn't stand a chance.

I'd like to think that if I'd been in her shoes, I would have held firm, but I just can't be sure I would.  Which is what makes the whole thing so interesting, because on paper, I'd never let a person like Mikey be anywhere near me.  That scene the first morning in the kitchen, where Mikey's telling some looooong story about I don't even remember what?  I was thinking "This guy's fun!"

Plus don't forget that Lexi did start having sex with him after a little bit, so there was something there.  I don't even have that excuse for thinking I'd find him entertaining to be around. 

As for her mother, I think she had pretty much given up on everything and just went along with whatever was happening.  Having two former porn stars under your roof--one your daughter and the other irresistibly charming--can't be easy.

[Browncoat]

2 minutes ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

But between his charm and persistence, she didn't stand a chance.

Definitely persistence.  I like to think I'd hold firm, and I'm pretty sure I would with a total stranger if he were like Mikey.  But yeah, if I had history with him, who knows.

 

4 minutes ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

As for her mother, I think she had pretty much given up on everything and just went along with whatever was happening.  Having two former porn stars under your roof--one your daughter and the other irresistibly charming--can't be easy.

Especially when your daughter is turning tricks to pay the rent.

[StatisticalOutlier]

11 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

Especially when your daughter is turning tricks to pay the rent.

Oh lord.  I forgot about that.  At least it makes Mikey a little less despicable.  Relatively, of course.

[AngieBee1]

Cannes Film Festival is gonna Cannes. When I read the Cannes audience gave this film a five-minute ovation I didn't understand why as I felt Sean Baker's films are ones that the Cannes crowd wouldn't love. Now, having seen it, I can somewhat see the reaction (though Cannes' audience gives out ovations and boos like tissue).

I've known about Simon Rex since the start of his career and I am glad he's been given the opportunity to display what he could do. I don't think the role of Mikey would work with someone who doesn't possess Rex's charms, which could easily tip into smarminess with someone else.

As charming as Mikey is I'm glad he didn't get through this film unscathed. He was a user and it's always funny when a user gets used in return. It could even be argued that Strawberry was using him, as well. I believe she knew he was lying about his life but she knew that he had in fact escaped Texas City once. I can see her dating him and letting him think he was playing her so that she could get out of the town herself.

[Giuseppe]

On 1/20/2022 at 6:37 PM, StatisticalOutlier said:

I have nothing in common with any of the main characters in this movie, and am generally disgusted by most of their life choices, but I was somehow relating to these aliens on human terms.

Same here. At least with Mikey.  I felt the same way about being repulsed by him but also not being able to resist him. If I were one of the managers he was interviewing with at the beginning, I probably would've given him a shot. Simon played him so earnestly and I think I've always had a soft spot for guys like that. But the movie's simply very compelling in and of itself. I could never live in or wouldn't even ever really want to visit a town like Texas City, but I found myself drawn into that atmosphere. Like the movie made me feel like I knew what it was like to grow up there. I really enjoyed it.

On 1/20/2022 at 8:09 PM, StatisticalOutlier said:

Plus don't forget that Lexi did start having sex with him after a little bit, so there was something there.

Oh there certainly was...