Anora (2024)

The first portion is way too long -- more than 30 minutes in we were wondering if the Oscar voters finally said "fuck it" and admitted what they truly celebrate is soft porn -- but once it gets going, it really gets going. 

Toss Broadway Danny Rose, Midnight Run, Planes Trains and Automobiles, While You Were Sleeping, and some porn into a blender and you'll get something close to Anora, but it's the humanity and the flawless acting that make this a real standout. In short: the hype is real, but you have to stick with it to find it.

B+