The personification of a specific type of sociopath is perfectly composed in Baker's Red Rocket, a film that tactfully exhibits the darker side of what American culture can spawn. What Baker and co. seem to understand so well is how these types of brash, manipulative individuals are rarely repugnant to the outsider, quite the opposite. Mikey Saber, played to perfection by Simon Rex, is cunning; He views every interaction as an opportunity to exploit for his own gain but in order to do this effectively one must be charming and convincing, and Mikey manages this, exploiting the impressionable, whether it be the desperation of a young woman or that of his ex-lover, who begins to be lulled to sleep again by his false promises. Baker's film is full of humor and is an engaging experience from start to finish, and much of this is due to the recognition that the biggest con artists out there, those that manipulate others and have delusions of grandeur are often extremely likable, sharpening their skillset with every person they step over to serve themselves. The cognitive dissonance is striking and accurately rendered through this character, a man who simply doesn't even realize how destructive he is towards others. In the end, what I perhaps find so interesting about this film is what ultimately stops this character, this walking manifestation of abject selfishness and sociopathic tendencies is community. The community comes together to reject and repel this toxic element, they protect their own
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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