Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: July 10, 2015
7.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 127 Ratings
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Positive:
103
Mixed:
14
Negative:
10
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9
TimbarosNov 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 andTwo 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.
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3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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7
FilmPhonicNov 22, 2015
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a film which is more timely and representative of 2015 western culture than ‘Tangerine’, an urban comedy/drama indie filmed entirely on Apple iPhones, featuring a cast of transsexuals and recent immigrants, andYou’ll be hard-pressed to find a film which is more timely and representative of 2015 western culture than ‘Tangerine’, an urban comedy/drama indie filmed entirely on Apple iPhones, featuring a cast of transsexuals and recent immigrants, and starring two transgender women as prostitutes in a series of misadventures on the streets of L.A.

‘Tangerine’ is an unconventional and slightly tragic screwball comedy/drama where the lives of pimps, prostitutes and their clientele are uncomfortably and hilariously thrown together.

Produced by major indie players the Duplass Brothers and written/directed by indie darling Sean Baker, ‘Tangerine’ was filmed on location in a notorious Santa Monica area near Hollywood where pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers ply their trade.

By using basic and accessible technology while casting leads with “experience” in the industry and area, Baker has achieved an ultra- realist view of L.A. that’s seldom seen, and has candidly depicted a subculture that has until now been largely ignored by media, all while crafting an outrageous comedy/drama that consistently walks the line between gritty and sleazy.

Clearly inspired by guerrilla filmmaking and indie heavyweights like John Waters and Jim Jarmusch , director Sean Baker delivers a vibrant and often uncomfortable cinematic experience that’s neither judgemental or sympathetic. Despite a dysfunctional and unexpectedly touching relationship between the two central working girls, clearly reminiscent of ‘Midnight Cowboy’, none of the characters are particularly sympathetic while the men suffer a particularly savage depiction that’s a thinly veiled theme of the movie.

Despite the critical acclaim so far, ‘Tangerine’ may be a divisive film for a larger general audience who may not be ready to deal with such a bold representation of the more marginalised people in modern western society. Although the film is sequential and easy to follow, there is a lot of filler. Expect the now ubiquitous dramatic indie synth-pop and electronic music sequences, in the form of endless overly stylistic purposeful walking scenes, which when removed, would probably make ‘Tangerine’ a 40min short.

The Bottom Line…
Outrageously funny and often uncomfortable to watch if somewhat flawed, ‘Tangerine’ is groundbreaking guerrilla indie filmmaking in both narrative and production, an unflinching look at the lives of the more marginalised in modern society.
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2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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9
mstiversJan 3, 2016
Energetic, funny, and original. I love that so much of it is subtitled Armenian... that family dynamic seemed so real and painful. The intersection between the immigrants and transgenders, two marginalized groups with seemingly nothing elseEnergetic, funny, and original. I love that so much of it is subtitled Armenian... that family dynamic seemed so real and painful. The intersection between the immigrants and transgenders, two marginalized groups with seemingly nothing else in common, is what really puts this movie over the top for me. You can criticize some of the production aspects but this movie is the real deal. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
katezoeDec 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
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8
jesseurbancsikDec 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
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8
netflicJul 20, 2015
A true essence of any art form is empathy. All protagonists in this movie are on the fringe of the society, living in a seedy Hollywood underbelly: cross-gender prostitutes, pimps, mentally imbalanced people. And yet this movie, with it'sA true essence of any art form is empathy. All protagonists in this movie are on the fringe of the society, living in a seedy Hollywood underbelly: cross-gender prostitutes, pimps, mentally imbalanced people. And yet this movie, with it's melancholic vibe, evokes feeling of affinity, of understanding that all people search for connection and love.

Beautifully cut story, with great acting and directing . Having lived in this neighborhood helped to enjoy and understand the movie better.
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3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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7
LamontRaymondJul 12, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie starts off with a BANG, and I thought it could have been one of the freshest, most interesting movies of the last few years. Unfortunately, it gets mired in the "side" story of this cab driver and his family. Gets highly depressing until it lightens up a bit toward the end. But it's still a pretty amazing achievement that the entire film was created using an iPhone 5s. The two lead "actresses" are terrific in the film - highly sympathetic. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
hotfromcauldronJul 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
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 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.
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
LowbrowCinemaJul 22, 2015
TANGERINE is one terrifically modern, gritty film. The first indie in a while that truly engaged me and made me feel the excitement of the street. Director Sean Baker perfectly captures the real LA in less than 90 minutes. And it's all inTANGERINE is one terrifically modern, gritty film. The first indie in a while that truly engaged me and made me feel the excitement of the street. Director Sean Baker perfectly captures the real LA in less than 90 minutes. And it's all in service to one terrifically wacky, funny, old fashioned, but profoundly current story. Kudos all around Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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1
FilmSchooledJul 24, 2015
BAD EXECUTION of good intentions. I nearly walked out after 15 minutes (it was like sitting in Film Prod.1 again, with every mistake demo'ed (let's cross the 180, forget to white balance, use jarring random 20 seconds cuts of disparate musicBAD EXECUTION of good intentions. I nearly walked out after 15 minutes (it was like sitting in Film Prod.1 again, with every mistake demo'ed (let's cross the 180, forget to white balance, use jarring random 20 seconds cuts of disparate music cause we can't afford to pay for a consistent track.) Really AWFUL. The trannie-actors are winning enough once they warm up ... but character's are one note 90% of the time. I too don't get why it's a critical darling ... it's more sleazy than gritty, ugly-amateurish than avant garde and the characters are more petty-cruel to each other than deep-loyal (though there are a few moments.) It's a B-movie: overacted, badly crafted slice-of-life melodrama. Save you time and aesthetics! Expand
3 of 7 users found this helpful34
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0
Marnie71Dec 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, thenThis 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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2
SavvyJul 24, 2015
Amateurish: acting, editing, photography. There is no lighting design. The 1st 45 minutes are PUNISHING: stilted dialogue (esp. in street scenes), blown out shots (shooting into sun or bright windows), unintentional jump cuts, omg ... like aAmateurish: acting, editing, photography. There is no lighting design. The 1st 45 minutes are PUNISHING: stilted dialogue (esp. in street scenes), blown out shots (shooting into sun or bright windows), unintentional jump cuts, omg ... like a highschool film student's first try. Eventually ... w-a-y into the film, bit start to fall together and you feel a bit for the hapless hookers. THEN the lead attacks other street-person, drags her about for a few hours, slapping her and punching her face into bars and walls when she tries to get away (this, I guess is "funny" street justice? Both leads and their john trash another persons life in ending climax ... and all think it's amusing. I lost my smidgeon of empathy about then. Yes, its a side of life we arthouse folk don't often see: blowjobs in carwashes, trans folk dissing each other at every turn (everyone they pass is a "hateful **** BUT I don NOT get the stellar, 'heartfelt' reviews. I'm pro LGBT. But this movie is just hokey craftwise and MEAN character wise and uneven storywise. It's LESS than mediocre, with a few bright moments. Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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8
j1trainJul 26, 2015
A small triumph of empathy. An intensely original, absorbing piece of indie filmmaking. The cast is terrific, especially Mya Taylor as Alexandra. Shot on an iPhone, it looks made-for-Instagram and sometimes has a music-video quality, but isA small triumph of empathy. An intensely original, absorbing piece of indie filmmaking. The cast is terrific, especially Mya Taylor as Alexandra. Shot on an iPhone, it looks made-for-Instagram and sometimes has a music-video quality, but is always interesting to look at. Roger Ebert said the movies are "a machine that generates empathy," and this is one stylish machine. Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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7
ScraperDec 27, 2015
Originality of material lays a great framework for Tangerine. Two transgender prostitutes are basically wound up and let loose. The camera work is frenetic and the dialog will keep you on your toes. I really wanted to see the characters putOriginality of material lays a great framework for Tangerine. Two transgender prostitutes are basically wound up and let loose. The camera work is frenetic and the dialog will keep you on your toes. I really wanted to see the characters put to the test with a variety of situations. But the end result was entertaining as if you're in the entourage. Good film. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
beingryanjudeJan 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 itsIn 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. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
LeZeeOct 14, 2016
On the Christmas eve in the LA streets.

Just one day event based theme and brilliantly made film. This film was made using iPhone 5s and this is not some film school project. The quality was really top notch, with great performances by all
On the Christmas eve in the LA streets.

Just one day event based theme and brilliantly made film. This film was made using iPhone 5s and this is not some film school project. The quality was really top notch, with great performances by all who involved in. I have never seen such perfectly rendered transgender story. I mean no offense, but it looked so real. Hats off to the director, writer and the actors.

Last year, there were some talks about this film's chances at the Oscars, but in the end it did not make. So after that I kind of lost interest in it, but now I had an opportunity to watch and I liked it very much. How a simple story and its simple characters developed were the highlights. You can't predict this stuff, because you won't know what comes after the each twist.

Most of the film takes place on the evening time, so that colour of the sky is what the title represents. I don't think anybody would dislike this film. It was slow, but short and sweet. One of the best films from the 2015. You much choose this to watch for its uniqueness in the filmmaking and the storytelling. In addition to that, it also entertains, so there's your reason to go for it.

7/10
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8
Brent_MarchantDec 12, 2015
Despite a somewhat thin narrative, this wonderfully innovative comedy succeeds by delivering a deft mixture of hearty laughs and touching moments while providing an engaging inside look at a little-known subculture. Fine performances,Despite a somewhat thin narrative, this wonderfully innovative comedy succeeds by delivering a deft mixture of hearty laughs and touching moments while providing an engaging inside look at a little-known subculture. Fine performances, inventive cinematography and clever dialogue make this a surprise treat, especially for those who appreciate films that take on the unexplored. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
cadoverAug 27, 2015
While the trailer sets you up for a 'let's laugh at the trannies' comedy, the story takes a bit of a jarring turn after the first 15 minutes, throwing you into the tragic reality of this corner of LA. There are a few instances of amateurWhile the trailer sets you up for a 'let's laugh at the trannies' comedy, the story takes a bit of a jarring turn after the first 15 minutes, throwing you into the tragic reality of this corner of LA. There are a few instances of amateur editing/dialogue/acting, but you get past it quickly and the overall impression you are left with is almost excellent, almost real. Sean Baker cuts an early Baz Luhrmann-like figure with this film, but you quickly realize this is the furthest thing from a comedy. Tangerine walks you out of the theater with a heavy heart. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
smiyamotNov 23, 2015
Really not my cup of tea. I do like indie movies because they experiment, try new things, rather than play it safe like the big studio movies. But this seemed more like an exploitation of street people trying to scratch out a living.Really not my cup of tea. I do like indie movies because they experiment, try new things, rather than play it safe like the big studio movies. But this seemed more like an exploitation of street people trying to scratch out a living. Plenty of F-bombs and **** but does that make it new and provocative? or is it following an indie formula, much like the studios follow their formula? Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
amheretojudgeSep 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
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 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.
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8
swordclashApr 7, 2019
As someone who has lived a sheltered, upper middle class life, this movie was a glimpse into a lifestyle very different from mine. I'm not necessarily talking about the transgenderism - I'm more talking about class and occupation. I don'tAs someone who has lived a sheltered, upper middle class life, this movie was a glimpse into a lifestyle very different from mine. I'm not necessarily talking about the transgenderism - I'm more talking about class and occupation. I don't know how people have the will to live in the environments and situations this movie depicts. The flat LA landscape. The dirty cabs. The stuffy apartments shared by a dozen literally f***ing people. Giving strangers blow jobs in cramped cars. I feel like I'd kill myself pretty quickly if I had to live like that, but the protagonists in this movie do live like that, and they do live. Expand
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4
geewahJan 12, 2021
A fair achievement on what is a limited budget and for it being filmed on iphones, but this movie is a bore.
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