Review of Red Rocket (2021) by Bertobellamy — 24 Apr 2022

As I was watching 'Red Rocket', I couldn't stop thinking about 'Zola', which I just happen to watch during the same week. Although both are dark comedies, their styles are completely different. But, at their core, the two of them explore how sex work becomes a way to "pursue a dream" in the deep USA; to ascend to the top and leave everything behind. These portraits of social decadence — and I could also add 'American Honey' — show the transformative power of money, either for good or bad, but mostly for bad. 'Red Rocket,' of course, is the greatest example: a predatory douchebag hungry for more traps an all-American girl and incepts her "THE dream." But what I loved about this film is how Mikey, the charismatic but sinister main character, just stays the same as when we meet him first: alone and without anything. With no money in his pocket, the dream is no more. He may have fooled some people, but life has finally fooled him for good.

If you want to see something as good as this, check out the Mexican film "Ok, Está Bien...," which portrays a very similar character but in a different context.