Red Rocket (2021) - Review

Sean Baker’s most recent film Red Rocket is another example at what he does best; technical mastery and commitment to realism. The world of this film feels so real because it is real, it’s shot on location in Texas, a lot of the actors are real people who match the role they play in real life, and even the central actor Simon Rex shares similarities in his career to the character he plays, named Mikey. The film is a character study about Mikey, a character who is likeable but does some pretty gross things. The film is unapologetic in showing you who this guy is, and doesn’t tell you how to feel about him, which is refreshing and engaging. Balance that with brilliant framing and beautiful 16mm film, and you got yourself one of the biggest independent art films of 2021.