Starlet
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Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.9 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Besedka Johnson, Dree Hemingway
  • 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. After a confrontation at a yard sale, Jane finds something unexpected in a relic from Sadie's past. Her curiosity piqued, she tries to befriend the caustic older woman. Secrets emerge as their relationship grows, revealing that nothing is ever as it seems. (Music Box Films)… Collapse

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    Nov 20, 2012
    91
    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.
  2. NPR
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    Nov 8, 2012
    80
    Starlet shows enough of her unbalanced, unsustainable situation to make sense of her connection to Sadie, however frail a ballast her new friend might be. Their need for each other is disarmingly sweet, but far from sticky.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    Nov 8, 2012
    80
    It's a character study about faith in connectedness, with an unforced love for cross-generational companionship that's special indeed.
  4. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Joshua Rothkopf
    Nov 6, 2012
    60
    Dree Hemingway, daughter of Mariel, commits to some unnecessary nudity, but also impresses with her subtlety.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. dante_finn
    9
    This little ultra indie is strikingly unsentimental.
  2. PHL
    8
    The critics got this right (and I'm surprised the user score is so low). I loved this movie. It's absolutely charming, and I would recommend you see it. It's a New York Time's Critics' Pick!… Expand
  3. Cyberghost
    5
    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.    … Expand

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