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Starlet

Dree Hemingway (Actor), Besedka Johnson (Actor), Sean Baker (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: Blu-ray
4.4 out of 5 stars 94 ratings
IMDb7.0/10.0
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May 7, 2013 		—
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Starlet $5.99 $19.99

Product Description

STARLET explores the unlikely friendship between 21 year-old aspiring actress Jane (Dree Hemingway) and elderly widow Sadie after their worlds collide in California's San Fernando Valley. Jane spends her time getting high with her dysfunctional roommates and taking care of her hihuahua Starlet, while Sadie passes her days alone, tending to her garden. After a confrontation at a yard sale, Jane finds something unexpected in a relic from Sadie's past. Her curiosity piqued, she tries to befriend the caustic older woman. Secrets emerge as their relationship grows, revealing that nothing is ever as it seems.

Product details

  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 5.92 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 821
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Sean Baker
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen, Blu-ray
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 43 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2013
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Boonee, James Ransome, Asa Akira
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Music Box Films
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00B58FVLY
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 94 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
94 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Aaron J. Krohn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best "never heard of" movie of the decade!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    "Starlet" was startlingly GREAT!!
    I watched it on another site, but it's so good, I'm gonna buy it.....from Amazon!!
    And best of all, I'd never even heard of it before I stumbled across it!
    The movie is an "indie" about a young girl who does porn movies, but let me stop right there, and explain something.
    It does NOT really matter that she's a porn actress!
    While you see her "doing her thing"....ONCE!.....that's it for the sex and nudity.
    (Well, her witchy (rhymes with -----!) housemate does bare her bottom at one point!)
    Anyway, the REAL story has to do with the girl buying a thermos at a yard sale, and finding wads of large bills inside!
    When she tries to return the money to the VERY old lady she bought the thermos from, the woman interrupts her, and with one thing leading SEAMLESSLY into another, this mis-match become fast friends!!
    Every scene is filled with great flowing dialogue, drama, comedy, poignancy, and finally, insights into secrets held.
    BTW, "Starlet" is the name of the young girl's dog!!
    This was a wonderful "find" for me.
    And now that I've found it, I just wanted to help others to enjoy...and LOVE....this incredible movie!!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Gregory E. Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Story of Intergenerational Relationship
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Movie that holds your attention as the movie unfolds. You are constantly wondering what is going to happen next. Dree befriends an old woman after finding some dough in a thermos she buys at her yard sale. She is conflicted about what to do with the money and decides to enter the older woman's life. An interesting study of character and present day mores of young people in CA. Was somewhat unhappy with the ending, which struck me as "French-like". Is that all there is?? Where does it go from here? these questions are not answered. 6.7/10.0
    2 people found this helpful
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  • KG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another touching, funny and idiosyncratic little indie from Sean Baker ("Tangerine")
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    One would think there's not much more to say about the empty life of druggy, fringy youth in L.A.'s San Fernando valley. But this film messes with our expectations in lovely ways, and ends up as a comedy-drama that's human and surprising.

    Calling a film like this 'little' is no pejorative. If it was 'bigger' (budget, stars) it probably would have had it's jagged edges shorn off, and with them would have gone much of it's special-ness.

    The acting is terrific. Dree Hemingway makes the air-headed, hottie lead wonderfully vapid and annoying – at first – and lets us only slowly come to appreciate her humanity underneath. Besedka Johnson, in her film debut as the 85 year old that Hemingway stumbles into an uneasy friendship with makes her character equal parts spiky defensive exterior and vulnerable, needy center, giving reality and depth to this sad, touchy recluse.

    The photography is also very evocative; its ugly, bleached color and slightly off-kilter but deliberate framings are far more interesting than is common in a micro-budget indie. And the film makes some brave choices, like a few seconds of extreme and un-simulated sexuality that makes points about character and our perceptions by being both shocking and banal at the same time.

    My only real frustrations were that a few of the plot twists felt forced – too neat and coincidental for a film this grounded in feeling 'real'. But that was nowhere near enough of a problem to keep me from feeling very warm indeed about this odd-ball character study.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • One Lucky Dude
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Sean Baker Film Ever!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Florida Project was a real let down… as has my experiences with him in person… but this remains the film that made me like his work so very much. Tangerine is excellent too.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Cary B. Barad
    3.0 out of 5 stars "It Has its Moments"
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2013
    An unremarkable and shallow film that has its moments, particularly as an exploration of intergenerational relationships. It also seems to give a convincing portrayal of the modern day hard core pornography industry, which is depicted as remarkably sanitized-- with none of the conventional sleaze, coercion and brutality that such activity usually brings to mind. In fact, the sex workers (in this film at least) look at it as "just another job" with absolutely no regrets or emotional conflicts. The main characters (including the dog) are also pretty cute which is a definite plus that raises this film to the low to mid-3-Star level.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gorman Bechard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Will make you believe in the power of cinema...
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    At a time when "indie" has so been hijacked by Hollywood (and a $20 million budget is laughably considered independent), it's wonderful to see a beautifully made, real indie film with breathtaking performances from Dree Hamingway and the late Besedka Johnson. Loved everything about this film. Perfectly paced. Thoughtfully written. Nicely shot. It's a small masterpiece, a slice of life. Watch it and marvel.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • JIM DIGIOVANNI
    5.0 out of 5 stars STARLET is Great!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    STARLET is one of my absolute favorite movies of all time! I didn't know anything about it and ordered it because I had seen a previous movie of the director, Sean Baker, (TANGERINE) which I really liked. I was 'blown away' by it! LOVED it. I HIGHLY recommend STARLET!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • AlpoDog
    4.0 out of 5 stars Arrived on time.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    In good condition.
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  • LOUVET FRANCK
    4.0 out of 5 stars merci
    Reviewed in France on July 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    merci
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  • A. Macookie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good movie
    Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Pretty decent movie... ending of the movie leaves you to your imagination.
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  • Markus Hock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cool
    Reviewed in Germany on November 3, 2023
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    Cooler Film ich liebe diesen Regisseur
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  • cartoon
    4.0 out of 5 stars making friends
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A quirky indy rather odd easy to watch . Its about truth and friendship and shows an interesting take on how a young woman who acts in porn actually lives in real life. Yes there is graphic sex but as its about being in the porn industry this only adds to the strength of the story . Dree Hemmingway [ yes she is a real Hemmingway] looks stunning and the late Besedka Johson [ who isn't even an actor] captivates allowing this film not to stumble into sentimentality. So its a cross between the warmth of say Sideways with a little behind the scenes at Belladonnas house.
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  • Gabriela Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bewertung
    Reviewed in Germany on November 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Starlet zeichnet ein Bild von Hollywood, das sehr realistisch die Schattenseiten der Filmindustrie dort, nämlich die nahe liegenden Pornostudios ins Visier nimmt. Dass die Hauptdarstellerin dazu noch eine Diebin ist, die einer Kollegin mit trauriger Vergangenheit Geld stiehlt, rundet das Bild der scheinbaren Traumfabrik ab.
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