Tangerine Movie Essay
If a film focused on a transgender prostitute doesn't seem like an interesting selection for a Netflix movie night, think again. One of the most appealing aspects of being a movie lover is discovering gems that one wouldn't normally seek out at the theatres. One such hidden treasure is Tangerine. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu offer extensive movie libraries. Consequently, there is more of an opportunity to explore unconventional movies than ever. Upon first glance, Tangerine might not appeal to the average person. The subject matter is in all probability completely foreign to the typical movie watcher. Tangerine, which explores a day in the life of a transgender prostitute, was produced on a shoestring budget with an iPhone as the
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Her journey through the streets of Los Angeles to confront her cheating boyfriend and the naturally "female" woman he cheated with drives most of the action. Along the way, we meet a variety of characters that live on the fringes of society. Whether it's an immigrant cab driver who cheats on his wife with transgender prostitutes, a pimp, patrol cops, a store clerk, or a crack whore, the way in which the film presents these characters is refreshing. They are not played for shock value or placed in focus in order to judge them. Surprisingly, they are portrayed with such energy and warmth that one soon forgets they are rooting for a transgender prostitute. The viewer is drawn to these characters that, on the whole, are not portrayed as flamboyant but with humanly measured performances. The film is humorous and at turns touching. The characters inhabit an ugly world that many would never like to experience in reality but we can be temporarily immersed through the magic of movie making. Another character that begs to be mentioned is the Los Angeles neighborhood where the film was shot, primarily an intersection of Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
The movie was filmed on something familiar to most moviegoers-an Apple iPhone 5S. Although it is not the first film to be shot on an iPhone, Tangerine has the distinction of being the first to be shown in theaters. The bleak neighborhood of run-down shopping centers and graffiti
Her journey through the streets of Los Angeles to confront her cheating boyfriend and the naturally "female" woman he cheated with drives most of the action. Along the way, we meet a variety of characters that live on the fringes of society. Whether it's an immigrant cab driver who cheats on his wife with transgender prostitutes, a pimp, patrol cops, a store clerk, or a crack whore, the way in which the film presents these characters is refreshing. They are not played for shock value or placed in focus in order to judge them. Surprisingly, they are portrayed with such energy and warmth that one soon forgets they are rooting for a transgender prostitute. The viewer is drawn to these characters that, on the whole, are not portrayed as flamboyant but with humanly measured performances. The film is humorous and at turns touching. The characters inhabit an ugly world that many would never like to experience in reality but we can be temporarily immersed through the magic of movie making. Another character that begs to be mentioned is the Los Angeles neighborhood where the film was shot, primarily an intersection of Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
The movie was filmed on something familiar to most moviegoers-an Apple iPhone 5S. Although it is not the first film to be shot on an iPhone, Tangerine has the distinction of being the first to be shown in theaters. The bleak neighborhood of run-down shopping centers and graffiti