Tangerine (2015)

On Christmas Eve, a transgender hooker (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is fresh out of jail when her fellow trans prostitute pal (Mya Taylor) gives her the news that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone) has been cheating on her with a non-trans white trash hooker (Mickey O'Hagan). Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and she goes off her rocker determined to find her rival and teach her a lesson. This low budget movie was actually shot entirely on an iPhone on the streets of Hollywood. This isn't the stylish Hollywood of GET SHORTY, this is the armpit of Hollywood ... the section of Santa Monica Boulevard where the hookers, street people and less unfortunate proliferate. While it's refreshing to see transgender characters actually played by transgender actors, as actors, they're clearly amateurs and it compromises the film severely. It makes one appreciate Jared Leto's work in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB all the more. By far the most interesting character is the married Armenian cab driver (Karren Karagulian) with a penchant for trans hookers on the side. His story could have made for an entire film by itself. But it's gritty, honest, funny, sad and in the end, it's about the strong bonds of true friendship which has the ability to heal. Directed by Sean Baker. With Clu Gulager, Alla Tumanian and Luiza Nersisyan.