Tangerine: iPhone Shot Narrative About Transgender Prostitutes Is the Future of Filmmaking

Genre: Comedy, Drama   Director: Sean Baker   Writers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch   Stars: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Director: Sean Baker

Writers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch

Stars: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian

 

Synopsis: A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. (C) Magnolia

 

 

The synopsis of Tangerine needs more explaining before this review. When Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) gets out of jail, she finds out from her friend and fellow escort Alexandra (Mya Taylor) that her pimp boyfriend has been cheating on her. (“Like a real bitch, vagina and everything.”) Add to the element that both of these complex characters are transgender and are beginning to feel comfortable for who they truly are. She is on a rapid-fire mission to locate the guy to confront him about the infidelity. Set during a wild Christmas Eve, Tangerine is a fascinating narrative that is never dull.

 

The absorbing comedy/drama Tangerine will engross art house audiences eager to look for serious and experimental alternatives. A cinematic feat that was shot on an iPhone and an impressive filmmaking accomplishment. Many movies go through the motions while on screen avoiding any forms of naturalism and reality. In contrast, Tangerine feels so kinetic, alive, and unpredictable. Through out the running time, I continued to be amazed with how it was shot. The look for the film from angles to colors is a breakthrough. Even though audiences get a glimpse of the seedy side of the business it includes much needed biting sarcasm and catty dialogue for the relief of tension. Director Sean Baker provides a comedic energy to a movie that one would expect to be predictably a heavy handed and emotionally charged drama.

 

tangerine2
Tangerine feels so kinetic, alive, and unpredictable.

 

Another terrific characteristic about Tangerine are the remarkable performances from both Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor. What Sean Baker captures on an iPhone is nothing more than miraculous. They are radiant and vibrant in a grim environment making a living in an uncomfortable profession. Tangerine features an unique soundtrack which is a emergence of hip-hop, techno and, even at times, classical orchestral merge together to create something rather special. I just started listening to the soundtrack on Spotify and really dig it. Director Sean Baker admitted in an interview that he used Vine and SoundCloud with networking/discovering the artists of the movie’s soundtrack. The music is the pulse that leads to a third act that unfolds into a rather complex confrontation involving multiple parties which clash with one another as accusations fly and secrets are revealed.

 

Tangerine was a big hit when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival causing quite a buzz in the cinephile community. I don’t think this will play well with mainstream audiences but am confident this could break out with achieving a respected following among the art house crowd. Wanting to label this a transgender buddy comedy sets up a level of expectation the movie could never achieve nor even tries to be. This is beyond labels. The legacy of Tangerine will last beyond the small, but I think mighty, box office performance and VOD. Once people discover this like on Netflix, it will churn creativity within next generation filmmakers. This low scale, but hyper smart-phone production is a selfie-stick of organic, guerrilla cinema that will inspire the micro-budget film industry. Welcome to 21st century movie making.

 

 

  • I rate Tangerine - 8/10
    8/10
8/10

About Kenny Miles

Whether something is overlooked by Hollywood or whatever business trend has captured the Entertainment Industry’s attention, Kenny Miles loves to talk about movies (especially the cultural impact of a film). He covers various aspects of movies including specialty genre films, limited release, independent, foreign language, documentary features, and THE much infamous "awards season." Also, he likes to offer his opinion on the business of film, marketing strategy, and branding. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado and is a member of the Denver Film Critics Society critics group. When he isn’t writing, Kenny channels his passion for interacting with moviegoers (something most movie pundits lack) as a pollster for the market research company CinemaScore and working as floor staff/special events coordinator in the film community. You can follow him on Twitter @kmiles723.