Many residents of La Jolla appear to cherish their quaint beach community and are keen on maintaining its tranquility. Their sentiment can be summarized as follows: Sea lions, please refrain from entering La Jolla! Maintain your adorable, blubbery, and odorous presence away from our beach community!
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My name is Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope’s Friday newsletter. As I compose this, the anticipation builds for Game 4. Should I conduct another wellness check on Plaschke?
Awards season, also known as ‘Anora’ season, has officially commenced
“Anora” unfolds in a fashion reminiscent of many timeless fairy tales: a young woman, overlooked in her daily existence and deserving of much more, encounters a charming benefactor and is transported into a world of Happily Ever After.
“You’re like Cinderella,” a friend exclaims early in the narrative. “Indeed, Cinderella,” our heroine responds.
In the freewheeling narrative of “Anora,” penned and directed by Sean Baker, known for films such as “The Florida Project” and “Tangerine” which highlight the struggles of those facing hardship, our version of Cinderella is a stripper residing in Brooklyn, while her Prince Charming is the privileged offspring of a Russian oligarch, a young man with considerable wealth and an uncanny knack for procuring top-quality ketamine in Las Vegas.
In this rendition, the glass slipper is replaced by a glass bong.
As one might surmise, concluding this tale with a promise of everlasting happiness is fraught with complexity, and it is within these challenges that the joyous, spirited allure of this lively screwball adventure resides. If you belong to a certain generation, you may even label the film as “madcap.” However, its true strength lies in the meticulous control that Baker maintains over the narrative. “Anora,” which garnered the Palme d’Or at Cannes earlier this year, stands as the pinnacle of his filmmaking career.
I reviewed the film, and Times contributor Tim Grierson recently spent time with Baker at one of the filmmaker’s favorite local theaters, Gardena Cinema, a venue I am determined to visit before the year concludes. Baker engaged in discussions with Tim about his passion for independently owned, single-screen theaters like the Vista or the Gardena, as well as the filmmaking journey that culminated in “Anora,” which is currently screening in select theaters around Los Angeles before expanding its reach next month.
“I was turned away by McDonald’s and Burger King,” Baker recounted with a chuckle, nostalgically reminiscing about applying for summer employment as a teenager in New Jersey. Ultimately, he secured a position at a struggling single-screen theater in Manville. “It was a mom-and-pop operation. It was smaller than Gardena Cinema, but not by much. Within a week, they informed me, ‘OK, we will train you to be a projectionist.’ Within three weeks, I had become the manager. At 17 years old, I was managing a theater and simultaneously serving as the projectionist, which was quite remarkable. It featured a rather eclectic group of people—think Jersey Shore types.”
Sean Baker examines the projection room at Gardena Cinema.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
Jane Fonda recognized for another career achievement, this time by the SAG Awards
Throughout her illustrious career, Jane Fonda has received numerous honorary accolades, including those from the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, the American Film Institute, and the Producers Guild of America, along with the Golden Globes just three years ago.
Come February, she is set to receive yet another prestigious accolade, becoming the 60th recipient of SAG-AFTRA’s highest honor, the SAG Life Achievement Award, in recognition of her career accomplishments and humanitarian efforts.
At the age of 87, Fonda will be awarded during the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 23, in a ceremony that will be streamed live on Netflix.
Choosing these honorees requires a careful balancing act, as award ceremonies seek individuals who not only deserve recognition but also possess a level of name recognition that can attract broader audiences. Fonda meets both criteria, although given her numerous accolades, it may be worthwhile to consider other deserving candidates as well. Sigourney Weaver finally received her first career honor this year at Venice. She has been outstanding for decades and often feels underappreciated. SAG-AFTRA, take note for next year.
Jane Fonda presents the award for best picture at the 2020 Oscars.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)
