Red Rocket

Headlined by a screen-grabbing turn from Simon Rex, Red Rocket finds Sean Baker crafting another wholly engaging character study surrounding the sex industry.

The fear of returning to a hellhole you hoped you’d escaped adds depth to Rex’s character, making it hard not to feel sympathy for him despite his flaws.

What did I just watch? A bunch of odd, rather unlikable characters. Dumb storyline. And Mikey....ugh.

Red Rocket was an incredible (and unusual) experience. I believe this was the first film by director Sean Baker that I've seen, and, gosh, I can't wait to see his other films. The film surprises from the very first scene, with the names of the main actors and the title of the film in red, and the song Bye, Bye! playing in the background (in fact, Sean Baker makes great use of the song throughout the film). Another great success was the casting of Simon Rex to play the protagonist of the story, Mikey, a washed-up former porn actor who returns to Texas after getting into trouble. Just like what happened with Demi Moore in The Substance, the story of the protagonist of Red Rocket is intertwined with the story of Simon Rex himself, who, in the past, was involved in the porn industry. And there would be no one better to play this character: Rex delivers his best performance here, and he pleasantly surprised me! The rest of the cast is incredible, with special mention to Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son. Suzanna plays "Strawberry", a young woman who, at first glance, seems innocent and angelic, but who, as she gets involved with Mikey, shows a different side, with scenes that, due to her angelic appearance, can even be uncomfortable. I personally didn't know this actress, but I was amazed by her talent and beauty. Another interesting character, but not very explored, is Loonie, Mikey's wife's neighbor: I really wasn't expecting that plot involving the pile-up, and I was sad about the outcome. Sean Baker's direction is impeccable, and the photography is unique, expressive and impactful: at all times, the scenes have as a backdrop the smoky chimneys and the huge factories that make up the scenery of that small town, and there are also colorful scenes, such as one of Mikey and Strawberry's encounters. Baker manages to present us with beautiful images. About the ending: in my opinion, it was open to two interpretations. The one I got was the following: after being kicked out of his wife's house, Mikey headed to Strawberry's house, that is, towards his only chance to escape the failure he found himself in, since, during part of the film, his intention to launch the young woman into the pornographic market is explicit, and he had a small hallucination: the scene in which he sees Strawberry opening the door, wearing a red bikini, as if she were ready to go into action, is simply the projection of his greatest desire. The film ends, then, without giving us the answer as to whether or not Strawberry accepted to enter this market, and whether, consequently, Mikey failed or not. And I liked that, because endings open to interpretation are interesting. A pleasant surprise, which I will recommend to my friends to watch!

Strange, funny, colorful, and a little cringe all at the same time…. (I don’t know if that’s me, or the mushrooms I had a couple hours before watching it for a second time).

El cine para adultos visto desde el lado "amistoso", teniendo como personaje central un actor menoscabado, derrotado que, con todo y su carácter despreciable no deja de provocar gracia. Una opción para ver en solitario.

Filme bacana, gostei do simon Rex como o protagonista só que o roteiro no final do filme não ajudou, a velha ingrata demais, a velha agredece o personagem do simon Rex por ter feito sua filha para te se prostituir, e no final xingou o maluco, ingrata do caralho, e o filme nem deu continuidade na amizade o simon e o parceiro dele, deixando o preso mesmo, e ainda teve o relacionamento com a garota na loja de donuts e no final também não teve continuidade no relacionamento dos dois.

Continuing to educe raw energy from performances of unprofessional actors, Sean Baker's comedy whose title refers to the member of canine tells the misadventures of a washed-up adult performer returning to hometown with tail between his legs and later dreams of a comeback to the porn industry with a newfound starlet.

Red Rocket has certainly got a dope concept as there is just so much talkative passion which is a massive key factor to its success.

Ok I'll start by saying Simon Rex's acting is very good but I'm afraid I cannot say much else positive about this train wreck. You spend the whole time waiting for something really gritty to happen only to discover it never does. It is literally the definition of all bark no bite in film form.