Tangerine

Name: Tangerine
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 10, 2015
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Alla Tumanian, Arsen Grigoryan, Ian Edwards, James Ransone, Karren Karagulian

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 127 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 127 Ratings

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Tangerine

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: July 10, 2015 | Not Rated

Starring: Alla Tumanian, Arsen Grigoryan, Ian Edwards, James Ransone, Karren Karagulian, Kiki Kitana Rodriguez, Luiza Nersisyan, Michael Adrienne O'Hagan, Mya Taylor

Summary: It's Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee (newcomer Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone, STARLET, "Generation Kill") hasn't been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra (newcomer Mya Taylor), embark on a mission to get toIt's Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee (newcomer Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone, STARLET, "Generation Kill") hasn't been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra (newcomer Mya Taylor), embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumor. Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles, including an Armenian family dealing with their own repercussions of infidelity. [Magnolia Pictures]… Expand

Director: Sean Baker

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

100

John Hazelton

Jul 7, 2015

Tangerine paints a portrait of transgender sex workers and their clients that pulses with raunchy energy and compassionate humour. It’s a bracing slice of American indie film-making. Read full review

100

David Lewis

Jul 16, 2015

This is sublime filmmaking, a textbook example of how indies can tell groundbreaking stories in a way that Hollywood simply can’t match. Read full review

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Nov 15, 2015

It radiates a candour, immediacy and tongue-scalding sex appeal that a bigger budget would have only smothered. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Jul 8, 2015

The two working girls at the center of Tangerine are played by engaging newcomers: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as the freshly out-of-jail Sin-Dee Rella, and Mya Taylor as her best friend Alexandra. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Nov 15, 2015

There’s real energy. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Aug 6, 2015

Although the story of Sin-Dee and Alexandra might have benefited from a bit more structure, it’s a window into a world of which many people are unaware — but a world that has its share of dreamers. Read full review

Mike Scott

Sep 18, 2015

Like the rest of the film, it's has its laughs and it has its emotion, just not enough of either. Read full review

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User Reviews

Timbaros

Nov 29, 2015

Two transgender prostitutes tear up Santa Monica Boulevard in the brilliant new film 'Tangerine.' In a week that also sees the releases of Michael Fassbender in 'Steve Jobs' and Dame Maggie Smith in 'Lady in a Van,' Tangerine' is far and above the best film of the three.

It is one of theTwo transgender prostitutes tear up Santa Monica Boulevard in the brilliant new film 'Tangerine.' In a week that also sees the releases of Michael Fassbender in 'Steve Jobs' and Dame Maggie Smith in 'Lady in a Van,' Tangerine' is far and above the best film of the three.

It is one of the most funny and original films of the year. and stars two transgender actresses in the lead roles, roles that will make them both stars.

Mya Taylor is Alexandra, and Kitana Kiki Rodriquez is Sin-Dee (yes, Sin-Dee), it's Christmas Eve in Los Angeles, and Sin-Dee has just got out of jail after spending 28 days for holding drugs for her pimp boyfriend Chester (James Ransom). She finds out, from Alexandra, that Chester has been having sex with Dinah (Mickey O'Hagan), so Sin-Dee goes on a mission to find Dinah and then to confront Chester. And Alexandra is having her own drama - she's performing at a local bar that night and has passed out fliers to everyone she knows. Meanwhile, she's got one of her regular customers, Razmik (Karren Karaguilian), looking for her. Razmik has problems of his own, he's attracted to transgender prostitutes, but he's married with a young daughter at home. He's also got his nosy mother-in-law visiting for the holidays.

Sin-Dee finds Dinah in a motel room with several other prostitutes and their naked male customers, so she literally kidnaps her and then heads to confront Chester. Alexandra, meanwhile, scuffles with a customer who doesn't feel like he should pay her because he didn't come. But she does have sex with Razmik in a brilliant uncut sex scene in a car wash. All these characters converge together at the local Donut Shop as they confront each other about infidelity in a very dramatic and hilarious ending. Tangerine is a Christmas tale not of the typical Christmas kind.

Shot on three iphone 5s' on a $105,000 budget, Tangerine is not the sort of movie you would expect to be dazzling, funny, dramatic, adventurous and original, but it is. Thanks to the many elements that bring this 88-minute film to fruition which make it so; the guerrilla style filmmaking is excellently created by Director, Editor, Co-Cinematographer and Co-Writer Sean Baker (co-written along with Chris Bergoch). And the actors are fantastic. Baker initially met Taylor at the Los Angeles Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Community Center, and she introduced him to all her friends, including Rodriquez, which is how 'Tangerine' came to be, and these two actresses more than carry the movie, they are the movie, you can't take your eyes off them. The rest of the cast is also brilliant; especially Karaguilian (who is a professional actor) brings sympathy to his role as a man trying to do the right thing but who also harbours a secret, and O'Hagan as the 'other' woman who is literally dragged around Los Angeles by Sin-Dee in the search for Chester. The Los Angeles neighborhood where this film is shot feels like another character in the film; the hued and hazzy skies, cheap motels, strange people and very cheap fast food restaurants litter the area. And the music (and script) is cutting edge; pulsating, loud, sharp, a perfect match for a film with characters who are the same, who spew lines such as 'He just went from half **** to full **** to 'You forget I've got a dick too,' and 'you don't have to Chris Brown the **** with copious amounts of the word **** and 'whore.' 'Tangerine is a smorgasbord of wit and sarcasm. It's also brilliant and must be seen to be believed.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

katezoe

Dec 4, 2015

Loved every minute of this ourtrageous comedy of two best girl friends. On the another hand it is a hard look at people living on the fringe of mainstream and how society does not understand them.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jesseurbancsik

Dec 2, 2015

For the small budget and unknown actresses, this film really is making a grand debut and it deserves it! Great acting, cool shots and awesome music! Indie films are really making a hit this year!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

beingryanjude

Jan 11, 2016

In deep contrast with the gorgeous orange-colored skies throughout, TANGERINE is both gritty and raw. The misadventures of our two leads are unsettling and worrying - almost at all times. Its a simple film - shot on an iPhone 5s - but its heart isn't quite as simple.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hotfromcauldron

Jul 22, 2015

Tangerine is the most “foreign” American film I’ve seen in ages. An Altmanesque trip over a couple of hours through a couple of blocks with a couple of chicks - that starts and ends at the right moments.
Baker’s delight of crackling performances, vibrant kalaidescope colors and raw freneticTangerine is the most “foreign” American film I’ve seen in ages. An Altmanesque trip over a couple of hours through a couple of blocks with a couple of chicks - that starts and ends at the right moments.
Baker’s delight of crackling performances, vibrant kalaidescope colors and raw frenetic energy is captured on an iPhone. And the large cast of characters - estranged bedfellows , a dysfunction family and friends who got your back - are fully fleshed out with a gamut of emotions and plenty of “high” drama. Tangerine puts a face on the people of Caitlyn Jenner’s crusade - drawing us into their world - through laughter and sorrow.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

amheretojudge

Sep 15, 2018

you won't have to check twice..

Tangerine Tangerine is a character driven feature about a girl who is looking for his boyfriend on Christmas eve. As the premise guides you, the sense of urgency is kept alive throughout by real-time tightly packed screenplay that keeps the audience on theyou won't have to check twice..

Tangerine

Tangerine is a character driven feature about a girl who is looking for his boyfriend on Christmas eve. As the premise guides you, the sense of urgency is kept alive throughout by real-time tightly packed screenplay that keeps the audience on the edge of the seat. The structure might resemble a bit especially where the rudimentary process of investigation is concerned. But with Baker being on throne, his realm is unexpected and justified to the core where the audience wants to be fiddled by him. And like many of his tale, this too takes mythological tale and foliates it with his raw dark theme and bold writing skills. The background score might not be accurately edited but is surely up beating and helps elevate the momentum along with decent cinematography and fine editing. It is shot beautifully with camera work that is manually handled and brimmed with bright colors. The parallel tracks are equally gripping and exhilarating whilst demands the attention through projecting the inner world that is intriguing enough to invest in it. Chugging down the plethora of emotions that offers quite a range with the help of its multiple characters that are manipulated like a puppet. The performance isn't natural and the audience can feel it but is decent enough for it to grow on you. Baker's pocket his filled with tiny notions that offers this quirky tale an appropriate gravitas and with an execution skills like his, you won't have to check twice. The weaving of the high pitched dramatic sequences may slow things down a bit but when it finally hits on screen, it is utterly electrifying. Few one liners, pragmatic characters and aptly written conversations are the high points of the feature. Tangerine is definitely an essential feature both politically and cinematically, as it raises essential questions on society and the craft that ought to be explored.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Marnie71

Dec 26, 2015

This is a dreadful piece of film making and it's completely beyond me why anyone would rate it so highly. The acting is dire, the script ridiculous. It's not just bad, it's diabolical. If this is what currently garners rave reviews, then cinema is screwed indeed. I love a film with indieThis is a dreadful piece of film making and it's completely beyond me why anyone would rate it so highly. The acting is dire, the script ridiculous. It's not just bad, it's diabolical. If this is what currently garners rave reviews, then cinema is screwed indeed. I love a film with indie sensibilities, but, whether pro or not, the actors have to be able to actually act. Appalling.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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