Academy Award Favourite Anora (2024): A Independent Film Review

Imagine critically acclaimed films Klute (1971) and Pretty Woman (1990) had a baby, you’d get Anora (2024). This Academy Award winner is a contemporary story of a classic tale, the rise and fall of greed and success. In the classic style of Sean Baker Anora challenges the stigma surrounding sex work and questions the idea society has of the profession, Anora manages to be entertaining and mysterious whilst shining a light on an area of society we rarely see. 

Although Anora’s characters feel familiar, the film remained surprising and original. The film has a charm to it even though the story is gritty and the characters are sharp the film remained whimsical in a way; it continued to keep this magical feeling at its core. I use the word ‘magical’ lightly, this film is dark and chaotic at best but it keeps you intrigued because its characters are intriguingly enigmatic. 

Anora (2024) manages to live outside the lines of genre, Anora combines dark comedy, romance, crime and thriller all into one entertaining amalgamation of love, sex and money. 

Half way into the film the atmosphere and mood shifts, when Vanya disappears and Ani if left with the Russian entourage the film becomes a dark comedy from the unconventional romance it was previously. This feature relishes in the humour of frustration, the natural comedy in conflict that makes Anora genuinely funny and memorable. 

Sean Baker is a visionary filmmaker, he sees the beauty in the dark corners of society. The potential in the effortless chaos of corruption, entitlement and greed. Baker brings light to the underbelly of society and although Anora (2024) is a step up from his previous features in both production and budget, he is able to keep his independent aesthetic and mood at the heart of the story. Anora (2024) felt like a raw depiction of life, a real storytelling of how fast decisions can change your life and how quickly you can fall from grace. 

Sean Baker takes us on a crazy, overwhelming journey of Ani’s life. In a second we experience her pain, her fight and her need for security. Ani is a vulnerable character, working hard to keep herself afloat and as she finally sees the end of the tunnel all her dreams are ripped from under her. Through Baker’s screenplay, his direction and his editing style Anora (2025) is an enticing, often surprising and shocking tale of the Brooklyn Cinderella. 

The character of Anora is phenomenal, powerful, demanding and strong. Madison gives us an unforgettable performance as Ani, she embodied the role and gave herself fully to it, through her physicality and voice she transformed into the role of Ani. Mikey Madison is a talented actress who I know will continue to go on and make influential features, I hope her and Sean Baker develop a creative relationship and bring us more characters and stories like Ani. 

Overall, Anora (2024) was a gripping film and I understand why it has moved and impacted so many who have watched it. The film was unique, it was intimate, it was enticing and engrossing to watch unfold. Anora (2024) was unpredictable, the style of the film was fast paced and heart pumping, it was chaotic and yet comedic. In a nut shell, Anora was fun. 

Probe Points

★★★★☆

Film Probe's Thoughts on Academy Award Wins:

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Similarly to Klute (1971) and Pretty Woman (1990) The Academy thrive on stories of provocative and self assured women living through vulnerable, life changing situations. Jane Fonda, Julia Roberts and now Mikey Madison all caught the attention of the academy. Honestly, I thought Mikey Madison was excellent in the role. She is particularly breathtaking when you know how far the role of Ani is from her natural self, she is a powerful actress and she deserved her Oscar but was it more deserving than Demi Moore or Fernanda Torres? In my opinion, no. 

Best Original Screenplay

Sean Baker has a way with words, the screenplay for Anora was intelligent and raw. Baker was able to make a masterpiece of cinema and storytelling whilst retaining his authentic way of filmmaking. In this category, Anora was up against A Real Pain, September 5, The Substance and The Brutalist. Can I confidently say the Anora screenplay was better than the above mentioned, no but can I say  Sean Baker is a deserving nominee and brought us a beautiful, unconventional fairytale? Yes. 

Best Editing

Sean Baker’s recognition for Best Editing is something I loved to see, although editing is not something I am strongly familiar with. Editing can easily make or break a film, Baker credits his editing alongside his directing and I thought his editing decisions in Anora (2024) were powerful and often intelligently funny and impactful. 

Best Picture

Anora taking away Best Picture was something I never predicted and although it wasn’t my first choice, I was not surprised. Anora is a strong piece of storytelling and it showcases characters and journeys that the Academy has always admired and recognised. Vulnerable provocative women in gritty, chaotic situations. It wasn’t my first pick but I love the idea of independent filmmakers being seen at the Oscars, lesser known creatives being recognised for their vision. 

Best Director

Again, without fear of repeating myself, Sean Baker is a fantastic filmmaker and I was extremely pleased to see him take away this award. Although Coralie Fargeat was my personal choice to win, if she couldn’t I was beyond happy with Baker. He is a unique filmmakers with a distinct voice through his filmography and Anora only adds to his wheelhouse of talent and ambition.