I am a big fan of Sean Baker films and most of them have a very unique style and the stories always have an element of intimacy and interconnection between the main characters to show a different slice of life that is quite refreshing and gives one hope for the indie film market.
This film Starlet had a lot of potential and some unique moments and decent directing yet unlike his other films it was poorly cast with its support actors and not as realistic as his other films except for Dree Hemingway and Besedka Johnson. Both did a phenomenal job especially Dree who pretty much carries the entire film. And of course the adorable dog makes up for the shortfalls of the poorly written back stories.
I still enjoyed the film but it was rather pathetic that Baker thought adding some totally unnecessary gratuitous X rated sex scenes (which required a body double for Dree) was a wasted scene and added little extra dimension of realism to the story except to cheapen its very essence. The dichotomy between the 2 porn actresses was pretty obvious without forcing it on the audience. Unlike his other new film Red Rocket which easily could have had XXX flashbacks to Michael Saber prior porn life, but Baker decides to include an X rated scene for no reasons except maybe he is obsessed with Porn or perhaps he felt it made it more realistic which basically backfires and makes it look like a B rated Boogie Nights.
However his story telling is fabulous and unique and worth watching yet for some odd reason he seems to force quick endings which is a shame but it still works in this film. The mystery at the end of Dree Hemingway Jane character pondering at the gravestone. (spoiler) and realizes that Sadie had lost a daughter and that brings a new depth to the character.- yet it could have been so much better if it was revealed in the 2nd act and their friendship and story could have gone much deeper.
Baker is definitely improving with each film that he makes and looking forward to his next film.. hopefully with no reference to his porn world obsession.
A 5 mostly for Dree Hemingway and the Dog.
This film Starlet had a lot of potential and some unique moments and decent directing yet unlike his other films it was poorly cast with its support actors and not as realistic as his other films except for Dree Hemingway and Besedka Johnson. Both did a phenomenal job especially Dree who pretty much carries the entire film. And of course the adorable dog makes up for the shortfalls of the poorly written back stories.
I still enjoyed the film but it was rather pathetic that Baker thought adding some totally unnecessary gratuitous X rated sex scenes (which required a body double for Dree) was a wasted scene and added little extra dimension of realism to the story except to cheapen its very essence. The dichotomy between the 2 porn actresses was pretty obvious without forcing it on the audience. Unlike his other new film Red Rocket which easily could have had XXX flashbacks to Michael Saber prior porn life, but Baker decides to include an X rated scene for no reasons except maybe he is obsessed with Porn or perhaps he felt it made it more realistic which basically backfires and makes it look like a B rated Boogie Nights.
However his story telling is fabulous and unique and worth watching yet for some odd reason he seems to force quick endings which is a shame but it still works in this film. The mystery at the end of Dree Hemingway Jane character pondering at the gravestone. (spoiler) and realizes that Sadie had lost a daughter and that brings a new depth to the character.- yet it could have been so much better if it was revealed in the 2nd act and their friendship and story could have gone much deeper.
Baker is definitely improving with each film that he makes and looking forward to his next film.. hopefully with no reference to his porn world obsession.
A 5 mostly for Dree Hemingway and the Dog.