Anora (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD]

Quite the best 138-minute-long trip in a while. Anora excels in almost every aspect a movie fan could expect... a nice story, characters to root for, to laugh with, to love, to dislike, to stress us and entertain us. Well aware of the story, its pacing is quite remarkable in reflecting our perception of time in our lives. The best and happiest moments will make time fly by. The sadder and more traumatic moments will linger and make us feeling caged in a slow trip hoping to find light at the other side of a dark tunnel. The outstanding performances from the cast, especially from lead actress Mikey Madison, are just the icing on the cake. Every actor and character makes every frame of this picture worth the watch. Very happy with the physical copy of this film by Criterion. Well packaged, and excel content. Arrived on time and was in perfect shape. Absolute recommend!! 🖖

Obviously this film isn't for everyone. It isn't a family film for sure. But it is a movie that does what all great movies do: it puts you in an environment most of us don't experience, it takes you on a thrill ride of conflict and suspense, it has a ton of wtf moments, and it has a satisfying ending that ties together all the themes and threads the rest of the film hinted at and spun. Without spoilers, I can say that the journey of Ani to Anora is poignant, subtle and ferocious, and ultimately empowering to men and women. The direction of the film is excellent--from the first moments you know you are in the hands of a filmmaker (and filmmakers since film is collaborative) who knows exactly what he is trying to convey. You willingly take the ride with him. The acting is excellent, with each character eliciting an emotional response from the viewer almost immediately. The roles are played in a way that doesn't telegraph too much too soon. The use of relatively unknown actors heightens the sense of reality and the viewer investment. Familiar "star" faces and mannerisms don't pull us out of the action. I don't know if there was music in the film because I was too involved with the action to notice. Despite the film's immediacy, the viewer also picks up on clues about where the story is going, and Ani's tragic background--it isn't spelled out, but some things are apparent by the end. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. This is a film worth giving your attention to and makes for an enjoyable and fast 2 hours!

A Disappointing Oscar Win: Why Anora Falls Flat The Academy Awards have long celebrated excellence in filmmaking, honoring movies that push the boundaries of storytelling, direction, and technical mastery. However, this year’s winner, Anora, is a baffling choice that undermines the very standards that define an Oscar-worthy film. From its lackluster plot to its amateur execution, Anora is an insult to the legacy of past winners and a disservice to audiences who expect cinematic brilliance. A Plot That Goes Nowhere One of Anora’s most glaring flaws is its complete absence of a compelling narrative. The film meanders aimlessly, offering no real tension, depth, or stakes to keep the audience engaged. Characters are introduced without meaningful development, and the so-called “plot” is riddled with inconsistencies and uninspired twists that feel forced rather than organic. If a story is the backbone of a film, Anora is spineless. Direction and Editing: A Masterclass in Mediocrity The direction is equally underwhelming, with scenes that feel hastily stitched together, lacking any sense of rhythm or coherence. The cinematography fails to elevate the film, relying on generic framing and uninspired shots that add nothing to the viewing experience. The editing is choppy and erratic, making certain sequences feel jarring and disconnected, as if the filmmakers themselves were unsure of what they were trying to achieve. Acting That Feels Hollow A strong cast can often redeem a weak script, but Anora offers no such saving grace. Performances range from overacted melodrama to lifeless monotony, making it difficult to form any emotional connection with the characters. Moments that are meant to be profound or moving instead come across as awkward and forced, draining the film of any sincerity. An Oscar-Worthy Film? Absolutely Not To put it bluntly, Anora does not deserve a place among the greats. It lacks the ambition, creativity, and execution that define Oscar-winning films. Its victory is a slap in the face to classics like Schindler’s List, The Godfather, or Parasite, which showcased true artistic vision and craftsmanship. The Academy’s decision to crown this mess as the best film of the year is not just disappointing—it’s embarrassing. Final Verdict While film is subjective and different audiences may take away different meanings from a movie, Anora simply fails on too many levels to be considered a worthy Oscar winner. Instead of setting new standards for excellence, it drags the prestige of the award down. If this is the direction the Academy is heading, it may be time to rethink what truly defines cinematic greatness.

Good movie to watch if you know there's a meteor about to hit the Earth and you don't want to feel like much will be lost in the destruction. None of these characters are very likeable, except the one thug who unaccountably has a fondness for Anora, despite her generally rubbish personality. The euphoric party atmosphere leading to the marriage shifts to comedic shenanigans as they search for the lost husband, ending with Anora's emotional breakdown as she realizes that she is in fact a hooker programmed to trade sex for money, not some loving wife as she pretended to be.

5 Stars for the learning experience. Shocked that it was best picture. Have your sons watch to prove how the party / strip club life is useless. It definitely is worth a watch. Like watching a train wreck. Funny parts were the stereotypes. Fast forwarded it through some parts. Sex was mundane, Ani was vulger, money hungry, and definitely destined to die on the streets. The son was useless. The parents were pretentious and made money through pain of others. Incredibly interesting the hope of the strippers to exit the life with a "Prince". The akward relationship because of the 2 worlds colliding (Marriage) really didn't show a difference between Parents and son. Both were scum. In reality the marriage would have worked. They both showed that absolutely nothing mattered according to cultural standards as long as the money didn't run out. I think whomever voted for this as best picture must have been threatened with death if the didn't vote for it.

I paid $5.99 to rent this movie and I don't think it was worth it. While watchable, it is not a great movie, it is not even a good movie. The main problem is the lead character, Anora (Ani), who is not a likeable person. The most likeable person is Igor and we do not understand his kindness towards Anora as she does not deserve it. Ani objects to being called a prostitute but that is what she is. The first part of movie, the Anora character is nude, lap dancing or in sexual positions. That went on for a while which was not necessary but could have helped convince Academy voters to vote for this undeserving movie for best picture and best actress. The rest of the movie, the Anora character keeps her clothes on and the story begins. Movie is loud, chaos filled with many characters under the influence. There are some funny moments but without a likeable main character, the story falls flat. The young son who marries Anora is one dimensional and we do not know why he wants to stay in the U.S.A., other than fear of his Russian parents. This is a disappointing film as we expect a Best Picture winner to be at least a good movie.

I know there's backlash over certain slurs and I get it. But there are one or two or ten scenes in this harsh, luscious calamity film that left me cheering or just plain floored. The acting is thoroughly extraordinary. I was glad it racked up the awards. The one element I found kind of eye-rolly, and the weakest part of the film, was the opening sequence in the club (the line of lap dancers). It wasn't very imaginative, more shock-obv for me. Other than that, I adored it. The ending captures a particular trauma response that rings 100% true for me. I'd never seen it rendered this way before. Highly recommend if you like dark humor, relentless pacing, and in-depth character studies. Must be okay with sex work culture. Must tolerate gay slurs that are appropriate for the characters (but questionable as to why the filmmaker chose to include them).

It seems I can't rate this one star, so I've given it two. I'd prefer to give it zero. It's a travesty that this piece of junk will forever be on the list of Best Picture winners with "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Godfather", "Ghandi", "Green Book", etc. The "best" screenplay is a repetitive, uninteresting mess consisting mostly of F bombs and assorted insults. The first forty minutes or so consisted mostly of graphic nude lap dances and graphic nude sex scenes--not exactly Katherine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Jody Foster material. I'm no prude, but in a Best Picture winner, I'm looking for something of value, something engaging, something that wows me with creativity and talent, something that pulls me in and affects me emotionally in a meaningful way. This garbage affected me but with shock and dismay at how far the standards of Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Director have fallen. I want my money and my time back.

This is a really nice set, can confirm it's 3 discs, 4K and two blu ray. The 4K DOES play on Australian players, including ps5. The blu rays are region locked. Got a tiny bit mushed in the mail, but nothing too bad. Overall, definitely a great pickup if you're a fan of the movie.

Ce film s'est mérité l'oscar du meilleur film, et de la meilleure actrice. c'est sexy, parfois très drôle, et captivant d'un bout à l'autre. Je l'ai vu et revu avec autant de plaisir. Mickey madison est extraordinaire dans le rôle D'Anora. Je suis bien content d'avoir ce film dans ma collection. L'attente fut longue, mais le délais annoncé fut respecté.

First off. Mickey Madison was Outrageously captivating with this performance, but the thing that got me is the two Russian body guards. if ever I was to encounter them I would be saved, maybe, never in my life have I ever had so much fun watching a movie with the likes of these overall individuals. I remember the movie way back in 1956 called The Girl Can't help it. with Jayne Mansfield's when she couldn't sing one note but her boss tried. but in this movie, Ani thinks she got the world when she found the Russian Oligarch son of her dreams. but soon that crumbles to a halt. love this movie.

A great script and believable acting! Mikey Madison is terrific! One of the best movies that I have seen, in years!

Good movie of a stripper, well acted.