Starlet | Rotten Tomatoes

Starlet

Released Nov 9, 2012

1 hr. 47 min.

Drama

List

87%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A young woman (Dree Hemingway) finds a fortune stashed in a yard-sale thermos and befriends the crotchety oldster (Besedka Johnson) from whom she bought it.

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Petros T

Featuring great performances by the leading duo of Dree Hemingway and Besedka Johnson, the beautifully shot "Starlet" is an endearing watch. Baker and Bergoch's slice-of-life script is captivating: the characters and their arc are really well done and carry the film on their shoulders as they immerse the viewer in every little moment for the entire duration. And although familiar tropes aren't avoided, the film never becomes hackneyed, emerging instead as emotionally powerful in its restraint.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/11/23

Full Review

Duncan L

Friendship, heart, and a little bit of porn. Memorable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/23

Full Review

Jed I

6.3/10 — "Okay"/"Watchable" -(Seen on 4/30/23)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/02/23

Full Review

James B

*Spoiler Alert* Another great American Indy gem from Sean Baker, enjoyed the film but I found the motivation of the lead character perplexing. So she felt guilty about keeping all the money she discovered in the thermos so she gets to know the old lady. If she felt guilty then why not just try to tell her again (after she'd cut her off and slammed the door in her face the first time). And then offers to take her to Paris, bizarre. Maybe I'm just being too simplistic and then the old lady did say she has more money than she could spend from her late husband. Just seemed like an odd way to start a friendship. Other than that a great film, I prefer his others but only slightly; they've all been really solid films. I really love this director's films so much, I get so engaged in his films that when the movie is over it's like waking up from a dream. I can't wait to see what this Indy legend creates next, I'm officially a fan.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I rented this film after watching and loving Red Rocket and Florida Project. What a trip! Great performances, very fun premise. It's sweet without ever being cheesy. Highly recommend if you liked other Sean Baker movies.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

william d

Watching this movie was a decent enough way to spend a lazy afternoon.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Sean Baker

Director

Dree Hemingway

Jane

Besedka Johnson

Sadie

Stella Maeve

Melissa

James Ransone

Mikey

Karren Karagulian

Arash

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A.A. Dowd

Time Out Chicago

No amount of strong acting, however, can entirely compensate for the dramatic conveniences or every shrill appearance by Jane's cartoonishly despicable roommates.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 8, 2013

Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

Baker effectively juxtaposes two vastly different worlds, though he never makes the case that either is as significant as the gauzy visuals suggest.

Jan 8, 2013

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

HollywoodChicago.com

When the film has to get into more depth regarding its characters futures and pasts, it falters a bit but there's still a lot to like here.

Rated: 3.5/5.0

Dec 7, 2012

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Starlet is chilly, superficial and unpleasant.

Feb 28, 2021

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Baker directs with such sensitivity and grace, allowing the story to reveal itself in a disarmingly moving way.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 6, 2019

Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

...has a sunny SoCal vibe that belies its tawdry milieu

Rated: 88/100

Apr 27, 2013

Full Review

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Synopsis

A young woman (Dree Hemingway) finds a fortune stashed in a yard-sale thermos and befriends the crotchety oldster (Besedka Johnson) from whom she bought it.

Director: Sean Baker
Executive Producer: Ted Hope, Shih-Ching Tsou, Saerom Kim, Giancarlo Canavesio, Sol Tryon
Screenwriter: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Distributor: Music Box Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $86.2K

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