Tangerine
DVD - 2015



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Most Egregious Oscar Snubs, 2016 edition
Actress – Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Tangerine:
Rodriguez is a category 5 tornado as a jilted sex worker who takes no prisoners as she looks for the pimp that cheated on her during a prison stay.
Supporting Actress – Mya Taylor, Tangerine: Taylor provides the grounded heart to the brash and boisterous Tangerine. (more)
Top 10 DVD releases of 2015
A lot of attention-grabbing headlines surround this hilarious and captivating slice-of-life but all you really need to know is that it is hilarious and captivating. (more)
From Library Staff
Shot entirely with an iPhone, this gritty, vividly acted film follows Sin-Dee, a trans sex worker, through the streets of LA as she searches for her unfaithful boyfriend with the help of her best friend Alexandra.
From the critics

Community Activity
Quotes
Add a Quote*** some with raw language ***
Loose lips:
I've been keeping a secret about me and Chester.
-Girl... Whoo! I know what it is! You're breaking up with him! Thank God. Because honey, if he's gonna be cheating on you like that...
-Wait, wait, wait.
What? You didn't know?
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Misc quotes:
Mystic, merry, Toyland
Once you pass its borders
You can ne'er return again...
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Christmas is for Americans. For us, it's another work day.
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She was with a friend and her name is Sin-Dee.
-Oh, the train wreck and the hot mess. Yeah.
They left? What do you mean they left?
The johns:
Well we have seen you cruising around for at least 45 minutes.
-I...
So you didn't just park it and come down
- I just... I... Like ten minutes ago I was driving around. I was on the phone. I realized... You know what, sir? I shouldn't be talking and driving the car. That's it. That's it.
Why does he owe you money?
-We made a business transaction.
A business transaction? OK.
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Razmik supports the family. He takes care of us.
-What are you talking about? He only takes care of himself.
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You girls usually have some exotic names.
-Selena.
Yeah?
-Yeah.
Where you from?
-Does it really matter where I'm from?
You new? New in town?
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This is like the second time this month that this happened to me. I'm tired of being fxcking nice to people.
-I've got some money for you. Don't worry, man. I think this is becoming our favorite spot.
Ordinary people:
Ashken, you have a great son-in-law.
-He's great but he gets tired too much.
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He's lucky he's in America. Imagine if he was in Armenia.
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There's no Christmas without snow.
-Christmas is Christmas regardless of the weather.
Feels fake. Los Angeles is a beautifully wrapped lie.
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Is that a dog or a cat? (inside a pet cage)
-A dog.
What's the name?
-Alfie.
Alfie is a very well behaved dog, huh? It's so quiet.
-It's empty.
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I was named like all Indian Cherokee babies are named. First thing the mother sees when the baby is born she names that fucking baby. So when I was born, my mama looked out the window, and she seen a red bird, flying overhead in the sky. Cherokee Indian name for red bird is Mia Mia. So, she called me Mia. If you think that's a girl's name, it's not. I'm glad she didn't look out the window and see an outhouse.
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She's getting skinnier and skinnier. Everyone comes to America and gets fat. Even I gained weight. But this girl gets skinnier.
The lingoes:
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***Note***fish: 1. a very derogatory term used by some to refer to non-trans women. Often considered highly offensive. 2. a compliment among some, too: "You look so fish."
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What? You two are getting married? You just went from half fag to full fag!
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Who is she?
-Girl, she's some white fish. I don't know.
Chester is fxcking cheating on me with real fish?
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I've been told you this was gonna happen. All men cheat. That's why they're called trade. Do them just as dirty as they do us. Out here it's all about our hustle, and that's it.
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Why do fish come in to our territory?
-Cause when they're Jane, girl, they're jade.
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What kind of fun?
-I was thinking maybe BBBJ?
===
You might be his bottom bxtch, but I'm his girlfriend,

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This bedazzling independent film gets almost 5 stars from me for its sheer exuberance. It showed up on a lot of independent best lists a few years ago which is how I found it. It is funny, very touching, chaotic, outrageous and it feels at times like a screw-ball comedy. Messy slice-of-life yes, and these women on the edge of society have troubles--money troubles, love troubles, trust troubles, and they create community. It is not a movie for everyone. The cast of characters is made up of transgender women working girls, hustlers, the people who have small businesses in this part of LA, a cab driver and his crazy family, etc. Their lives are as real to them as my life is to me. The director does not judge. This is just how it is.
This is low-budget film from capable American director Sean Baker. It has that low-budget feel and I found out later the film was actually shot with an iPhone. This phone follows a couple of trans prostitutes as they go about their lives and try to solve their love problems. These people live in a world very far from my 'norm', and for that reason their problems and live style simply do not engage me. There is a side plot about an Armenian taxi driver but I don't know if that adds anything meaningful to the script. So watch it for its uniqueness but it just may not be your cup of tea.
The opening scene had way too much bad language for us, so rejected.
I did not like this DVD. It is a waste of time. It lacks a story. The characters are shallow. It promotes a promiscuous life style and living on the street in the sex trade. It encourages gender confusion without getting therapy for mental illnesses. Most of the characters in this story are men dressed as women calling themselves women. They argue a lot. They call each other "Bitch". For simplicity, she in this story is actually a he. It's Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend hasn't been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra, embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumor. Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles. There is very little dialogue. Most of the time it is two people walking a lot. In the end, one of the males drags a real woman off a public transit bus accusing her of being the girlfriend with the pimp boyfriend. It is no surprise people of loose morals cheat on the side in their relationships. I spent most of the time in fast forward to get to the end of this lousy movie.
A waste of time. It's pretty much just a home movie that shows what happens if you don't finish high school.
I cant believe anyone thought this movie deserved anything less than 4 stars. This is a great movie, filled with dark humor and poignant moments that any transgender person can relate to. I love it. Definitely in my top 5 LGBT films.
According to IMDB cost for this was around 100,000.00 and return around 700,000.00. Apparently it is on the strength of this that Sean moved up to 'The Florida Project'. I don't see the budget for that one but Willem Dafoe probably means wider release. Perhaps it is unfair to say that these particular trannies have been allowed to portray themselves in a way that is comfortable for them. To me, neither the A or B plot here is convincing. I don't think it is time well spent if sparkly scenery, flashy clothing, and an upbeat sound track is the reward. One bit part player in the extras made the point that Baker has puke scenes in all his previous films as he has here. Haven't fact checked that. In thinking about this one, I recalled 'Even Dwarfs Started Small'. I don't say the film has no value. I take it on faith that it is a hard thing for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Also, one cannot live by bread alone. It is good to be reminded of friendship. It looks like this particular way of living is entrenched.
At first I was mildly amused but then the movie just got worse as it went along.
A fresh out of jail sex worker went hunting for a "fish" called Dinah who cheated with her fiancee/pimp Chester. An original script that focused on the subculture of LA's Santa Monica and Highland neighborhood where the transgenders, their community and johns have best friends, fall in love, have dreams, some with families and all must work to make money. An uneasy topic but made enjoyable by the unpretentious story without many comic moments starring a duo of talented transgender actors.
3/4 Roger Ebert; 97% Rotten Tomatoes and 7/10 IMDb
Just another transgender garbage film. Lousy plot. Lousy acting.