One of the things I absolutely love about Sean Baker as a director is how he casts his leads. He has this amazing ability to pick actors who might not be A-list, but have the raw talent and authenticity to bring the characters to life in a vibrant and believable way.
It makes his characters feel real, grounded, and super relatable, which is exactly what Anora and The Florida Project need, considering both films focus on protagonists who are dealing with poverty and personal struggles.
Sean Baker Casts Against the Current
Mikey Madison as Ani in Anora is nothing short of mesmerizing. Her performance brings a raw, unfiltered energy that would’ve been lost on an A-lister. It’s a kind of genuine you’ll only find from someone who hasn’t been polished by Hollywood.
It’s the same feeling I got watching Bria Vinaite as Halley in The Florida Project. She didn’t feel like a polished celebrity; she felt like someone you could bump into on the street—and that’s exactly what made her character so compelling.
Casting someone who’s too big would totally pull the audience out of the story. It’s tough to buy into the struggle of a character trying to make rent or hustle for a better life when they’re played by someone whose fame is too big to ignore. Sean Baker gets that.
His casting keeps the focus on the characters’ humanity, which makes it way easier to get lost in their world. Not to mention the cool “meta” element that by casting a lesser-known actor, Baker may very well be setting up the same sort of rag-to-riches story his film’s are about—but in real life—for actors trying to find their big break.
Plus, I can’t stop quoting Ani’s Brooklyn accent: “A fraud marriage??!” It’s just too good.
When the Music Tells the Story
Then there’s the soundtrack in Anora. It’s so much more than background noise—it’s part of the story itself. It mirrors Ani’s world perfectly, effortlessly shifting from vibrant and energetic to introspective and dark.
Baker’s mindfulness shows in every song choice, and you can tell they were picked with purpose to match the film’s tone.
Take the opening strip club scene with Take That’s Greatest Day, for example—it’s an unexpected choice, but it’s spot on. The song’s upbeat, euphoric energy parallels Ani’s hopes for wealth and success early on in the movie. Yet, its underlying eerie vibe quietly signals that things are about to take a darker turn.
The soundtrack also includes modern pop bangers like Slayyyter, which totally amp up the energy of the neon-lit club scenes. The songs feel so embedded in Anora’s world, I would be surprised if they hadn’t consulted real dancers or sex workers about what actually gets played in clubs. That sort of attention to detail goes a long way, especially considering cliché music choices that often ruin a film’s vibe.
Raw Talent Over Red Carpets
The authenticity is further emphasized by casting real dancers in the strip club roles. You can just tell when actors don’t quite belong in the world they’re supposed to be inhabiting.
For example, the prisoners in the new Joker movie Jennifer Lopez in Hustlers felt completely out of place, which totally breaks the immersion. It’s just har dot look passed it.
But in Anora, Baker’s commitment to realism and Mikey Madison’s on-point execution elevates everything. The world feels lived-in. The songs feel like they could’ve come straight from Ani’s personal playlist, adding another relatable layer to her character.
It’s this kind of thoughtful curation that really makes Anora deserving of the praise it’s getting.
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