Simon Rex did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning LAFCA and an Independent Spirit Award, for portraying Mikey "Saber" Davies in Red Rocket.
Can every actor give a great performance? Perhaps not, but are there many actors with a great performance in them? Perhaps so. Simon Rex is not a performer I would have thought of to appear in this particular endeavor, having only sorta known him as the lead in Scary Movie 3 of all things. But "hey you never know" seems to be a steadfast rule when it comes to the right actor finding the right role, and that is what you have here with Simon Rex. Due to the overabundance of remarkable leading turns this year, I originally wasn't going to give time to Rex's turn however when beginning to give my brief thoughts I found that I simply had far too much to say not to write a full review for him; something that occasionally happens however always speaks to a performance that is well worth giving a closer look to.
Director Sean Baker has been known for his films looking at people living on what is seen on the fringe of American society, typically with a sympathetic bent even if in no way holding back on the harsh realities of such a life. The character of Mikey though I think hearkens perhaps closer to the protagonists of different recent Indie darlings of the Safdie brothers, and in turn, hearkens to the leads of the 1970s. Characters whose moral ambiguity, or downright amorality, is simply just a facet of the character, and the film isn't about damning them, though there may be elements of such, it is rather just through examining the atypical lead for what they are. Rex in turn stomps onto the film as we follow Mikey as he seeks to stay at the home of his estranged wife Lexi (Bree Elrod) and his mother-in-law, though both view him with mostly contempt. Rex in the opening of his character pretty much establishes part of the way of Mikey as he tries to talk about staying there with his wife, and Rex's performance is kind of as a man that feels if he says enough he'll be able to inspire at least enough sympathy to get what he needs.
Rex is fantastic in this first scene in his delivery that is all about basically rattling towards any kind of understanidng he can find. First starting with basically an "oh come on" tone in attempting to convince his old family to let him just by sheer force of his will. Rex's pleas though in a way, as pathetic as in a way they are, you see really still the method in his particular sort of madness. Rex making Mikey's BSing a fine art, and he is artist in the medium of it honestly. This as we see his opens brushstrokes that only intensify as he's allowed in the house and he goes over all the different reasons why he's broke that somehow have nothing to do with his own mistakes. Rex though is wonderful by creating this unique sort of energy in the ranting as though he is the master of the excuse. This is his delivery that can speak so quickly yet randomly emphasize things like dealing with a gang he just didn't want to mess with within everything else that somehow still is dancing around that Mikey screwed everything up, that seems likely to be something that Mikey is no stranger to.
The other element of Mikey, that we quickly learn as he goes looking for a job and somehow is less employable than a convicted felon, is that Mikey is a porn actor, or as he would like to confidently say a porn star. The job interview montage is great work from Rex because in every discussion he again is the excuse maker and seems like he just can't quite give a straight answer. Rex brings the right sort of natural flow to the lies of Mikey as really what is just his basic setting, as he's ready to explain every curiosity within his employment record in a moments notice. Rex though masterfully switches tone when Mikey finally gets to what he's been doing for the last few years because there is no longer than a sense of the energy of the liar. Rex instead speaks with this utmost pride and confidence as he tells each potential employer about his status as a porn star. Rex has this particular way of talking about this almost as though the people should already be aware of his particular stardom, and has this perfect level of unearned assurance and accomplishment, even as this revelation only leaves him very much unemployed.
The film then is following Mikey and his attempt to return to some pseudo what one would believe as any kind of success through his particular type of determination. And it is here that Rex's achievement becomes more evident on re-watch, which is that Mikey is a wholly watchable character, despite his repeated terrible actions, and that has to be due to Rex's performance, because there's certainly nothing in Mikey's actions that would even remotely endear himself to you. Rex's performance though manages to wield the power of a train wreck, in that there is something so explosively destructive about it that it's hard not to watch him veer off the tracks again and again. Rex's performance hits that magical mark somehow though where the story of Mikey, which is the Texas fried version of the man digging in order to dig himself out of a big hole in attempt to get out by digging through the other side. We see this as Mikey because he can't find any legitimate jobs chooses to instead become a drug dealer for the neighborhood. Although that isn't even the main element that brings Mikey towards any kind of trouble as a man who truly seems to exist without shame.
Rex somehow becomes fascinating to watch then see him act his particular breed of strange charisma for the lack of a better word. We see him though even with his wife where he and Elrod really are terrific in creating a palatable sense of their relationship even though we never see the early days where they were a porno couple. This as Rex is naturalistic in a way you rarely see, as their relationship isn't remotely good, however it is bad in this distinctly authentic way to a certain kind of bad relationship. This as they aren't always at each other's throats, rather they are both just anti- each other in a way that reveals very much a connection, if mostly unpleasant, but could only exist from people who have shared quite a bit of intimacy. This as Rex bends so easily between moments of just being the ever caring husband with a random gift or coming onto her just to screw around, though as easily just shifts to an extreme petulance of judgment or annoyance whenever she very rightfully speaks ill of him.
There can be multiple shifts in a scene yet never feel even slightly disjointed, such as a scene early on where one moment they're having sex, and it seems like Rex's portrayal of Mikey's overdone charm is working, to her kicking him out of bed as truly using him just as a tool after he overstays his welcome and really we see Rex working and failing to flirt with her more genuinely, though because it's Mikey with his wife, he has trouble not seeming false. Rex is hilarious particularly in the scenes coming in conflict with Lexi and her mother. This because really both when he is convincing of his worth, mostly because he produces money, and when he's completely failing, Rex is great at being just so childish about it. His fighting just this annoyed complaining and his arguments are really comic gold with the whining mannerism in Rex's delivery as he notes that he's been mowing the lawn and "providing protection" for the ladies as though he's the secret service or something. They are a proper wreck of a group together, entertaining but also almost too believable in their brokenness.
We see though this "chance" at some kind of recovery though because of that connection as there are moments that are almost, which I hesitate to write, sweet where both Lexi and her mother show some willingness to welcome Mikey back if he's truly back and you know he's loyal in any way, and not planning to instantly cheat on Lexi and screw up their life any way he can. Still the moment where Lexi's mom honestly asks him, you could almost, wrongly, be convinced by Mikey. Rex is amazing though because what he does is show that in the moment Mikey probably believes what he is saying. Now does he believe this about ten seconds later, no. Rather Rex is able to be wholly convincing at showing someone who can lie to themselves just as well as they can lie to anyone else. He makes it this art form once again, that is shown through many form of Mikey's behavior throughout the film. Rex though throughout though shows really the way Mikey is empowered by belief, in that the more someone believes his nonsense the more convincing it becomes and the less labored Mikey's performance becomes, not Rex's his is always kind of perfect.
An example such is in a central relationship outside of his home with a local guy Lonnie (Ethan Darbone), who somehow makes Mikey seem like a successful person, given that Lonnie spends his time worshiping the thought of Mikey as his friend and pretending to be a military man. Rex though in these scenes reveals really Mikey at his worst oddly even as the man is being seen as some sort of an actual celebrity. Rex's delivery in these scenes is purely self-absorbed as these long run downs of his successful choices and achievements as a porn star. In every line Rex is having Mikey really sell himself to Lonnie as this true celebrity who is greater than anything around him. At the same time in every story of his "success" he follows it by explaining one failure after another, with one woman "betraying" him after another. Rex brings in these moments this more genuine hatred and anger in his performance even if so quickly and even quietly, yet so effectively in showing more so the very real emotions behind all his bravado. Rex's performance has this terrific balance between the man trying to explain his failures as part of the "biz" in there as just part of the life, while he brings this very palatable bitterness of someone who isn't at all happy with his life choices, despite his general attitude.
Perhaps the most central relationship is with a young doughnut shop girl Raylee aka "Strawberry" (Suzanna Son), who catches Mikey's eye and some how he catches her's, Mikey ensuring he will screw up his setup with Lexi and her mother. Rex though is amazing strangely enough, because as much as I wouldn't necessarily call him charming, you can somehow see his charm when he first entrances her with a stupid doughnut joke as his opener. You can kind of strangely see Mikey at his "Best" self in that Rex shows the same charm attempt that we see with Lexi, but less sort of labored in its attempt as he does it with a new woman. Rex portrays what is the old tricks, but now new tricks thanks to the new intention with this much younger woman who is in no way aware of his nonsense. Rex though oddly somehow succeeds in his ridiculous routine, yet there is genuine charisma in there as he wields his Texas style, and particular style to actually have a smile that doesn't seem as false, however only when smiling with her. Again the man finding his power, through someone who buys into him. Rex delivering with somehow his pride so much stronger, and in the way Rex again brilliantly suggests a man whose power grows very much by if the person is buying what he's selling, as he becomes a lot better and whole lot more convincing as a salesman even if it is mostly built on lies.
The way this relationship develops is fascinating in its anti-wholesomeness, because together they do have great chemistry, almost unfortunately, as they hit this similar wavelength, in part because Mikey lies consistently through his teeth, while she's nothing but completely earnest in her reaction to these lies. Rex and Son though are perfect together even as she's just legal and he's a total scumbag. It has to be said, in very much that 70's way, this isn't revealing a societal ideal yet crafts a wholly captivating pair in this relationship. There does seem to be genuine affection, just as there's this rather unpleasant grooming manner as he wants her to become a porn star herself due to her "skills", yet Rex even sells that because his delivery is filed with such intense belief in her, at least so it seems. Rex again hits this particularly brilliant blend of being both a complete phony yet somehow you also wholly believe his intention. He's completely wrong, but you also completely believe everything about the man. This includes becoming the girl's mentor and lover, and Rex never makes his work every less than authentic, which is quite something given who it is that Mikey is. I guess what is even more notable is that Rex is also captivating in every step of this process, reprehensible as it might be.
The overriding factor that Rex brings though is this uncompromising energy, that is a whole lot of things, it is funny, it is actually grating, yet also weirdly endearing at times, yet also it shows a man who spirals into every direction and really isn't any less destructive than some waves as damages those in his wake. The first most obvious step in this is leading Lonnie into causing a car pile up due to his own erratic behavior, and immediately running from any blame. Rex is outstanding though in the immediate portrayal of his reaction of fear of realizing the results of his actions, while also in the same reaction portraying the immediate deflection of someone trying to shirk off any responsibility. It is with the same intensity as he tries to get Strawberry to go with him to LA to make her a "Star" in his industry. Rex delivers the same sort of narrow conviction, here though this unabashed belief in himself that isn't at all earned, yet it is an undeniable facet of the man. Eventually though this doesn't work out as everything crashes down on him with his choices leading him to be rejected by all for his repeated betrayals and general demeanor. Rex is brilliant in the scene in showing the man immediately return to how he was in the first scene in the man where he is still singing the same tune, but without that conviction now, making the act especially phony and easy to see through. Rex is the perfect failure in this moment, by showing just how weak the act is when no one is buying it. And with this, we have an ending that is slightly Hudesque Rex reveals this moment of clarity in Mikey as it seems like he might actually finally realize something about himself. This is just in the silent moment of walking alone with now nothing, there is a man who perhaps doesn't believe in himself, and that may be the best thing for him. A genuine modesty, with his final reaction hitting the right ambiguity at seeing an idealized Strawberry waiting for him, as either maybe a man finally seeing some better path, or Mikey about to return to that some boisterous nonsense that has caused every failure of his life. Although from an unexpected performer as a very unexpected character, this is incredible work from top to bottom, and matches the extreme challenge of this role. Nothing should really work about this part, but everything does, and so much of the credit must go to Rex who makes it work. Rex somehow is likable, while being hate able, funny while being terrible, he's a loathsome offensive brute, yet I can't look away.
