Review of Tangerine (2015) by Anthony I — 06 Jan 2016

Tangerine is the independent film of the year, and it's very obvious to see why. It was completely filmed on an iPhone. That's right, the same things that we use everyday, almost at ever hour of the day, made this movie. Guess what? An iPhone can make a really good movie. This is a groundbreaking moment for cinema. This opens the door to thousands of independent filmmakers who don't have the finances to make a great looking feature. It doesn't matter anymore. Anyone can make a great movie. Anyone can tell a great story. These are the golden ages, my friends.

But what of the movie? What makes it so great? It's a down and dirty Christmas story about two transgendered prostitutes in the middle of a love triangle between a white-trash pimp and an Armenian cab driver (who tragically is a family man). The two main character of the film come across as loud and largely obnoxious, but you grow to kind of like them. They are proud to be walking the streets, and selling their bodies. Had these characters appeared in an early John Waters film, they might've been able to eclipse Divine. Speaking of Waters, this whole movie really reminded me of his work, and it's no wonder he placed it on his year-end list.

The armenian cab driver is by far the most fascinating part. You just feel so bad for his family, and so bad for him. As his addiction unfolds right before their eyes, you just want to roll up in a ball and cringe.

This movie is not without it's flaws, but it's also not without it's incredible moments. Just when I think i've seen everything from "Tangerine", the end sucker-punches me from behind. This film has many, many tricks up it's sleeve. It's a great, but very dark, comedy. Your 2015 movie list is truly not complete without seeing this.