X
- 2012
- Not Rated
- Music Box Films
- 1 h 43 m
- 2012
- Not Rated
- Music Box Films
- 1 h 43 m
Summary Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21 year-old aspiring actress Jane and elderly widow Sadie after their worlds collide in California's San Fernando Valley. Jane spends her time getting high with her dysfunctional roommates and taking care of her Chihuahua Starlet, while Sadie passes her days alone, tending to her garden. ...
Directed By: Sean Baker
Written By: Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker
- 2012
- Not Rated
- Music Box Films
- 1 h 43 m
- 2012
- Not Rated
- Music Box Films
- 1 h 43 m
Starlet
74
6.6
Where to Watch
Summary Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21 year-old aspiring actress Jane and elderly widow Sadie after their worlds collide in California's San Fernando Valley. Jane spends her time getting high with her dysfunctional roommates and taking care of her Chihuahua Starlet, while Sadie passes her days alone, tending to her garden. ...
Directed By: Sean Baker
Written By: Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
74
89% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
11% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
74
89% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
11% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sean Baker's singular little ultra-indie is a strikingly unsentimental study in female friendship between unmoored souls in L.A.'s bleached, glamour-challenged San Fernando Valley.
The story retains an inscrutable tone that sometimes makes its emotional qualities feel remote, but it still delivers a powerful message about the challenge of self-diagnosis by rooting it in universal experience
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 User Ratings
6.6
65% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
18% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
18% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 User Ratings
6.6
65% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
18% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
18% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
This movie succeeded on its mission brilliantly. As in life, the most complex situations flower from the simplest premises, telling a genuine, plausible story, with no pretensions. There are no cheats no trap doors no back doors no diversionary plot twists. We just walk a journey with two people who become unlikely friends, and the audience is taken along their ride of discovery, learning with them as they go, in the same world we all know.
This movie is first-rate in all the areas that matter the script, direction, performances and the low-budget, indie filmmaking is the only way to have gone with this one. A big Hollywood studio would have butchered this one.
The only criticisms I have are very modest ones. Some drama with the minor characters does not seem necessary? Yet, I would give this a pass. Life has its distractions, and this is a movie about life. Also, the well-worn premise of the "unlikely pair" an arbitrary two people whom fate has thrown together makes the first few scenes predictable. Don't let that push you away. Hang in there. And I do recommend multiple viewings.
I will not give away anything about this story. You deserve the same experience I had. That said, I will leave you with a question to ponder, and don't take it up until you have finished watching: is it ever good to hold a secret, even a big secret, away from someone who has every right to know?
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This little ultra indie is strikingly unsentimental.
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Starlet sneaks up on you. Set in the same sun-dried, strip-malled precincts of the San Fernando Valley where "Boogie Nights" took place - and set, in part, in that same porn industry milieu - Sean Baker's low-key, low-budget indie traces the relationship that develops between a young actress and an isolated, elderly woman.
Convincing performances from Hemingway and the charmingly crabby Johnson and an unhurried pace ensure that Baker's film achieves its modest goals.
Starlet is an unusually subtle, quiet character study - especially given the potentially salacious subject matter - that builds to a quietly powerful climax.
Jane's friendship with Sadie is the one thing that cuts through the numbness - though the film's so low-key, even emotional revelations feel pretty muted.
The relationship is the best thing about the film, which otherwise feels hopelessly sad and tawdry.
complex and three dimensional satirical accuracy..
Starlet
Starlet is a character driven drama about a friendship that is bred with not so innocent incident but is undeniably one, to the core. It is surprisingly hilarious with smart humoristic sequences that works as an anecdote to the rest of the heavy material offered for the rest of the part. The subjective procedure of the bonding is completely fresh for the viewers, as it doesn't follow the usual tactics to communicate, with a newer structure that is intriguing enough to invest in it. The characteristics of each character is one of its strength as it is mesmerizing to encounter it on screen when it enfolds into this behemoth complex and three dimensional satirical accuracy. Its poetic tone somewhat resembles with the short stories that are usually narrated to the younger ones and to experience the tale on screen told with such mature take, leaves the audience in an awe of it. The background score is almost non-existent but the viewers never misses it and the credit goes to Baker's fine skills. Jaw dropping cinematography and stunning visuals and locations with bright and breezy colors and fine editing decorates this feature into a soothing ride. Hemingway is convincing throughout the course with Johnson's amazing portrayal as a savior of the protagonist and on the other hand, Maeve's strong character that she justifies with her performance. Armed with such bold and gritty script, Baker marches on forward with his majestic execution skills that respects the mannerism of the genre. The mutual topic that the lead characters discuss about, a darker theme that actually seeks attention and brilliant execution are the high points of the feature. Starlet might not be the game changer but it certainly leaves the impression on you that might not easily be eradicated.
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A good movie about a young, energetic, friendly woman who, as a result of various circumstances, befriends a lovely, somewhat grumpy old lady. Not very original, as you've probably already surmised, there have been tons of movies, and TV shows covering the same relationship dynamic, and quite possibly the same basic outline. Some of those good, others bad, still others horribly bad and cliche, this however is 1 of the good 1s. The acting, directing and story-line were all good, resulting in a mellow, slow paced film with tiny peeks of highs and lows.
It's shot in suburban L.A. and has a distinct L.A. feel to it, at least it did to me, in the neighborhoods, the mountainous backdrops and perhaps too in the characters. I suppose that might not be really important, but I like to get engrossed in he cities and countries I see in movies.
The 1 bad thing I'd have to say about this movie though would be the ending, it seemed really abrupt, I assume the director/writer wanted us to mull over the last scene as we finished he movie but really it just left you wanting to see that scene/conversation played out and wanting the words that were implied to actually be spoken.
Overall a good movie, not great but good.
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Production Company
Maybach Film Productions,
Cre Film,
Cunningham & Maybach Films,
Double Hope Films,
Freestyle Picture Company,
Mangusta Productions
Release Date Nov 9, 2012
Duration 1 h 43 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Awards
Locarno International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Film Independent Spirit Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
SXSW Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
