Red Rocket (2021)
One of the best films on this list, Sean Baker’s Red Rocket is a judgment-free portrait of Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) an adult actor forced to return to his Texas hometown while on the outs from the industry.
Mikey believes he can wheedle his way back in by convincing Raylee (Suzanna Son), a 17-year-old girl donut shop employee who goes by the name Strawberry, to join him. He also strings along his ex, Lexi (Bree Elrod) and her mom Lil (Brenda Deiss) so he can live with them while he gets back on his feet.
Packed with excellent first-time actors, the film feel visceral and alive, adroitly blending comedy and sadness. It avoids moralizing, yet you come to some inevitable conclusions about Mikey.
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