Mikey Saber is a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone really wants him back.
Mikey is the kind of guy who never does anything wrong, or at least that’s what he tells everybody. He’s the person who never stops talking, never stops moving, never stops scheming. In many ways, he’s his own worst enemy and if he’d take one second to breathe, he might realize the damage he does to himself, all to prove he’s one of the cool kids. That’s who’s at the heart of Sean Baker’s new film “Red Rocket”: a quick-talking con man brought low and scheming to make it big, again. “Red Rocket” may have an unlikeable protagonist but Sean Baker’s penchant for showing humanity in small corners of the U.S. continues in this heartfelt, loud, and scummy (in a good way) film about sex, love, and greed.
Simon Rex turns in an incredible performance in this film. Mikey Saber returns home after flunking through his life as a wannabe porn star. With only twenty bucks in his pocket he talks his way into a couch to sleep with his ex, then a bag of weed to sell, then he meets a donut server. This recently-turned eighteen year old steals Mikey’s attention. Strawberry, as she likes to be called, falls in love with this scheming porn star bringing back old demons for Mikey and risking his chance at stability.
Right off the bat, we’re pummeled with the saccharine breakup song “Bye Bye Bye” and a sleeping ex-porn star. Mikey’s return to Texas City (far outside Galveston) heralds a new turn in Mikey’s life. He’s a weasely character without a doubt and deeply unlikeable but his sheer charismatic energy carries this film whether we like it or not. His inability to take responsibility comes off very strongly, and it makes him hard to like but Baker weaves in these few moments of casual peace that render our protagonist speechless. In those moments we can appreciate Rex’s performance as more than one note.
Rex’s performance wouldn’t carry the same weight if it weren’t for the incredible talent surrounding him. Rather than bend over backward to justify Mikey Saber, we’re gifted a world full of rich ancillary characters. Ethan Darbone plays kind-eyed Lonnie, the character who believes every word of Rex while asking him to be better. Brenda Deiss’ kind Lil charms Mikey with her harmless yet firm mothering. Judy Hill plays Leondria, the wise drug supplying elderly black lady. Bree Elrod’s Lexi might be one of the only forces fervently against Mikey Saber’s wiles, only his relentless determination could wear her down to the point of hoping he’s improved. Lastly, Brittney Rodriguez’s June rounds out the ensemble with just the right balance of wicked and youthful. All of these characters rebound off of the schemer in different measures forcing us to understand him in different ways.
The cinematography feels chaotic with the camera bouncing and weaving. The deep colors of every shot lend a saccharine tone to the whole piece, especially in the scenes with a naïve teenager. Massive smokestacks puff in the background of every shot, looming over them all. Whether it’s a trailer home or a donut shop or a drug dealer’s backyard, there’s something deeply American about it all. These are homes familiar to anyone in the continental U.S.
“Red Rocket” feels extremely honed in on its protagonist. We never spend time outside of him, always seeing the world as he comes and goes. It’s deeply heartfelt and disturbing in equal measures. We don’t quite see the full downswing of Mikey Saber’s ruses, but we get enough to understand that this man had a chance at happiness and he’s going to ruin it all out of some deep psychosis, not even he knows exists. Baker’s films always feel chaotic and rushed, but those moments of peace feel well-earned and delightful. “Red Rocket” is no different. It’s a neverending fracas punctuated with cotton candy sunsets over ominous smokestacks.
In Theaters Friday, December 24th
