Although it is a sad story, her acting is spot on and she deserved the oscar. I must admit this caught me completely off guard. I thought this was going to be a modern updated, edgier version of Pretty Woman from the trailers. Boy was I wrong! Not so cutesy.

you are pulled into this woman's life for a meet chapter of it, living through the love, lust, chaos and emotional turmoil of it only to be left to wonder how she will cope. The acting phenomenal and story heartbreakingly beautiful

hated it. cant believe it won all award.

Lots of sex in the beginning. As the movie progressed it became more interesting.

Hard to watch, but well-made. Mikey Madison was amazing.

Second half was hilarious af

Nice performance by Mikey Madison. However the constant yelling and chaos was a turn off. I think the plan was to be funny but it wasn't. A bleak story as well. Igor was the closest thing to a hero all the others had little to no redeeming value

The story was weak, no meaning too much sex.

Beautifully made and acted. But nothing to like about the story.

Can't believe this movie got best picture, or that she received an award for best actress! So disappointing.

A passion-fueled ride. Worth taking in and asking questions of.

Just like how Frances McDormand pleaded us moviegoers to check out “Nomadland” on the largest screen upon winning Best Picture, writer-director Sean Baker ultimately addressed similar sentiments with utter passion when winning the honors given to his film “Anora”. Admittedly, there was initial disinterest when romantically marketed generically – then picking up pessimism from reading the plot after hearing about the evocative ending. However, once intrigued by instilling dedicative passion surrounding the film’s final lap in closing the awards season, the worth is palpable, and upon seeing it not only certified that but also gladly distinguishing the entertainment value being better than what was thought prior. Claimed as a Cinderella story akin to reversing “Pretty Woman”, “Anora” follows the eponymously named Ani’s (Mikey Madison) brass outlook taking a strong stance in defying reality checks beyond her sex worker profession. One night upend her life into a committed romance with Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire looking to escape his parental controls. How they met is per his request of someone fluent with his native tongue, and Ani fits the bill that leads their frolicking communication into a romance they think qualifies true love, therefore impulsively marrying in Vegas. Vanya’s strict parents caught word of his latest actions, sending his godfather and henchmen to annul the marriage before the parents’ pending arrival. But when confronted then escalated, Vanya runs and ditches Ani who much cooperate with the henchmen – unfortunate for either party – as they go on a wild goose chase throughout New York. The first act visually feeds in discomfort towards objectifications but arguably serves as expositional emphasis as a rational defense once the plot departs entertainingly. Baker is renowned for his authentic integrity with intimate access onto personal emotions that emits to solidify resonance, but what he envisions here first is through invasive lens that provoked two different yet similar thoughts between disbelief and questioning in regretting on seeing this. Bold yet sexy at the immediate point of blindsiding the formally prepped enjoyment in what a film could offer, and the established first impression is nowhere near that level when rather elsewhere in its own mindset. But later when looking back once the plot progresses, there is actual purpose when sympathetically emphasizes the neon-lighted profession that energizes sex workers, taken further within the underlying subtexts from observing Ani’s arc. The film may seem romantic in frontal terms, but it is actually a dramedy, yet Baker sneakily ponders the question of “what is love”. You see, Ani and Vanya’s romance is nothing but physical love. We see Vanya for who he truly is according to his godfather Toros (Karren Karagulian), who actually speaks the truth with eased caution, and the absentee’s actions for the story’s remainder convincingly sends Ani towards doubt. Even so, Ani is willing to defend their marriage because she believes it expressively establishes their true love. The genre itself portrayed many varieties of the affective rules as it shows in the contrasting chemistries Ani shares willingly with Vanya and unwillingly with Igor (Yura Borisov), one of the two henchmen who seems new to the job looking after the rich brat. Igor’s gestures are innocent and more genuine like a mature, empathetic gentleman, then we see their shared conclusion for his mannerism to be met with Ani’s defensive cynicism. Their blossoming chemistry, once the amusing chaotic frustrations ended, is a pure testament to the love Ani can only understand outside of the profession’s little exposure when sensitivity is the string that the job forbids outside physical, objectifying enjoyment. After the touching, meaningful moment at the end, Ani’s inner conflict overwhelms simultaneously at the silent realization, patching the heart with grieving patience. It was not until the second act – when Toros and his henchmen confrontationally trigger Vanya’s cowardice to verify and forcibly annul the marriage – when the film starts presenting all that narrative brilliance as hilarity unexpectedly ensues. Before, through the first act, there was extravagant energy well captured by Drew Daniels’ positional cinematography on an interactive level’s collective sensation that puts the pair into a spiral influence. Now the vibrancy spikes hysterically in the second act, therefore easing the viewing with evoked laughs being smartly edited by Baker’s sharpening vision with a true humorous sense. It also makes the justifiable drama more engaging as it thoughtfully steepens, thus debunking the pessimistic impression and enjoying how it climatically unfolds with piercing honesty that satisfies over boiling disgust. A chaotic screenplay that eventfully overlaps in hectic scenery with stellar deliverance from the cast’s astoundingly collective, breathless escalation. Notably, Eydelshteyn as Vanya energetically looks for trouble with occasionally reactive amusement, but the most outstanding obviously goes to Madison’s more stirring breakthrough as she casually mustered impeccable strength that carries the tonal narration plus embodying bold reverence in the characterized approach. Though both instilled intolerable momentum on few occasions with lowbrow meets, Madison’s performance here is memorably a force to be reckoned with. Baker’s integrity demonstratively peaks as his artistic testament and stirs under full creative command with exceptional results that nicely exceed expectations. A definite independent film that minimalizes without the aesthetic need to go the extra mile like most would when it is skillfully written with a solid mindset and nuanced characterization that deepens the storytelling process. But if decidedly gone to see “Anora” before its honorable win as Best Picture, which was neck-and-neck with “The Brutalist”, there would not be further consideration over its stance adjacent to what its competition contextually expresses. Discussing how it deserves such honor remains debatable over the shared aspects between the two, with humane resonance as the key point and the other being classical while this one being more modern with worthwhile excellence and humbling redemption for the problematic portions. (B+)

Was not prepared at all for the amount of nudity, sexuality, lap dances and sex scenes. It said it was comedic??? Didnt laugh once. Do not recommend it unless you like watching porn with people you dont even know in a movie theatre.

A very human film with outstanding acting. Simple plot line, but well done.

it was awful. the plot sucked

Cant believe this movie won the Oscar for best picture. A waste of my time.

Very engaging, strong acting

Powerful storytelling with engaging characters. Good cinematography and editing. Great acting.

I don't think Anora deserves the Oscars. There is nothing special about the subject nor the acting by the main character. I would say it is more of a porn movie. I got disgusted of the so many porn scenes. There were some funny scenes, and that is the only one I enjoyed. I don't recommend anyone to see this movie., specially the young audience should stay away from seeing this movie. There are other movies out there with better acting involved and more meaningful subject. Myself and my friend were disappointed after watching this lengthy porn movie.

While I felt it was excellen and compelling ( 2 thumbs up) When the theater llights went on 2 older couples started to complain that it was not a great movie and that Anora was low-class trash. I guess that wanted more refined young sex workers with a better pedigree.