Actor, rapper, comedian, and one-time porn performer Simon Rex gives an amusing performance in Red Rocket as a washed-up adult movie actor dealing with a career downturn.
Mikey’s career in LA has gone south, chiefly because he had regular work in the spoof sex franchise The Fast and Fury Ass – but as the porn version of the character played by Paul Walker, whose death put a catastrophic downer on Mikey’s career.
Rex appeared in a solo male pornographic film, giving a meta-layer quality to his work in Red Rocket.
Director Sean Baker makes his Cannes Film Festival debut with Red Rocket, which will be released in the US through A24, the home of another recent film about a fast-talking loser, Uncut Gems.
The film doesn’t boast big names but expect Rex, an actor, and former MTV VJ, to receive plenty of acclaim for a star-making role that could spark a career renaissance.
The reviews for the film have called it one of the best this season at Cannes.
Variety: “It would be hard to imagine A24 not launching a best actor campaign for Rex, who delivers a real, charismatic, gritty performance — which includes a scene where he runs, a la Forrest Gump, through the street, only he’s completely nude.”
The Hollywood Reporter: “Played by Simon Rex in a magnetic full-tilt performance of wired physicality and hyper-caffeinated loquacity, Mikey Saber, as he’s known professionally, is basically a charismatic douche, a user and a loser.”
Vanity Fair: “Rex’s performance is fleet and nimble, gregarious and shaded in darkness. He and Baker make staccato music together, as Mikey’s profile shifts from hangdog loser to something far more complicated.”
The Wrap: “Casting actors to play within a certain range has worked for Baker in the past and it does again here, with Rex (sorry) rising to the task (so very sorry), filling the part (so very, very sorry) with no small bit (somebody make this stop) of personal baggage (whew, it’s done.) Let’s say the role fits him like a, um, glove. Let’s say glove. “
LINK LOVE
HOT DEALS
- Save $46.78 on the nutribullet PRO Single Serve Blender (900W) in matte lavender! Optimized 900-Watt motor and refined nutrient extraction blades blend the toughest whole foods into nutritious shakes, smoothies, and nut butters. [Best Buy]
- Save $120 on the Shark Navigator Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum! A 2-in-1 Powered Lift-Away® upright vacuum with a detachable canister for portable cleaning. With the touch of a button, Powered Lift-Away® technology allows you to lift the canister away and deep-clean hard-to-reach areas while still delivering power to keep the brushroll spinning. [Target]
- Save $30 on the Ninja™ CREAMi™ Ice Cream Maker, 5 One-Touch Programs, with 2 Pints Included! Turn almost anything into ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and more. [Walmart]
- Save $100 on the KitchenAid Artisan 10-Speed Stand Mixer – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia! This KitchenAid Artisan® Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer offers the capacity to make up to 9 dozen cookies in a single batch. And, it features 10 speeds to thoroughly mix, knead and whip ingredients quickly and easily. [Target]
- Save up to 50% on a Nectar mattress. The Nectar Spring Into Savings Sale is here, with some of the deepest discounts we’ve seen on their popular memory foam mattresses and sleep bundles. [Nectar]
- Save $500 on the Samsung – 55” Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K with Anti-Reflection and Slim Fit Wall Mount Included (2024). [Best Buy]
- Save $50 with code! Theragun Prime is a powerful, easy-to-use massage gun in a simple design for effective pain relief. Whether you’re recovering from the daily grind or fueling your active lifestyle, its deep, targeted massage helps your body feel its best. [Therabody]
- Save 5% on the Bombas Men’s Gripper Ankle Sock 4-Pack. [Bombas]
Like most websites, Socialite Life uses affiliate links where available, which means we earn a little commission if you click through and buy something. Also, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases. Savings shown are those from the date and time of this article’s publication.
