Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It

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Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It

PG-13,

2021,

1h 30m,

Documentary

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96%

112 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

112 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Over a 70+ year career, Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become a celebrated and beloved actor, one of the rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) Award Winners of our time. Born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm, Moreno and her seamstress mother immigrated to New York City when Moreno was five years old. After studying dance and performing on Broadway, Moreno was cast as any ethnic minority the Hollywood studios needed filled, be it Polynesian, Native American or Egyptian. Despite becoming the first Latina actress to win an Academy Award for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" (1961), the studios continued to offer Moreno lesser roles as stereotypical ethnic minorities, ignoring her proven talent. RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT illuminates the humor and the grace of Moreno, as well as lesser-known struggles faced on her path to stardom, including pernicious Hollywood sexism and abuse, a toxic relationship with Marlon Brando, and serious depression a year before she emerged an Oscar winner. Moreno's talent and resilience triumphed over adversity, as she broke barriers, fought for representation and forged the path for new generations of artists.

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Critics Consensus

An affecting profile of screen legend Rita Moreno, Just a Girl is at once a sharp critique of the industry's crushing inequities and a beautiful homage to an artist who never backed down despite the odds.

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Emma Fraser

Little White Lies

Dec 6, 2021

4/5

Hollywood still has much work to do, but Moreno rightly gets her flowers.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Dec 1, 2021

3/5

Overall, she emerges just as vampish, feisty and fun as you'd expect, and as a gracious giver of speeches at ceremonies where she collects endless lifetime achievement awards, her biggest side-hustle next to acting.

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

Jun 22, 2021

The documentary is rich in archival clips, but mostly it's just rich in her -- and Moreno is tons of fun.

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Marya E. Gates

Moviefone

Feb 13, 2024

Ultimately a story about persistence in the face of discrimination, the film exposes the festering wounds of Hollywood’s racist past to show the systematic issues, like colorism, that are still in play today.

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Cody Dericks

Next Best Picture

Jul 7, 2022

7/10

Its title may seem overly lengthy, but by the end of the film, it's clear why that phrase truly applies to Moreno.

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David Reddish

Queerty

Mar 13, 2022

3/4

At 89, Morenos petite frame still radiates star charisma and vitality. Viewers will come away from this film feeling like Moreno didnt just live life; she earned it.

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Mack

Jun 28, 2021

Fugit asperiores possimus culpa veniam vitae maxime vero.

Payton

Jun 28, 2021

Maiores fuga repellat.

Osbaldo

Jun 28, 2021

Doloremque sint expedita repellendus dolores et.

Dariana

Jun 28, 2021

Quod ea consectetur alias.

Mack

Jun 28, 2021

Fugit asperiores possimus culpa veniam vitae maxime vero.

Payton

Jun 28, 2021

Maiores fuga repellat.

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Mariem Pérez Riera

Director

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Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Over a 70+ year career, Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become a celebrated and beloved actor, one of the rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) Award Winners of our time. Born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm, Moreno and her seamstress mother immigrated to New York City when Moreno was five years old. After studying dance and performing on Broadway, Moreno was cast as any ethnic minority the Hollywood studios needed filled, be it Polynesian, Native American or Egyptian. Despite becoming the first Latina actress to win an Academy Award for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" (1961), the studios continued to offer Moreno lesser roles as stereotypical ethnic minorities, ignoring her proven talent. RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT illuminates the humor and the grace of Moreno, as well as lesser-known struggles faced on her path to stardom, including pernicious Hollywood sexism and abuse, a toxic relationship with Marlon Brando, and serious depression a year before she emerged an Oscar winner. Moreno's talent and resilience triumphed over adversity, as she broke barriers, fought for representation and forged the path for new generations of artists.

Director: Mariem Pérez Riera
Producer: Brent Miller, Mariem Pérez Riera, Ilia J. Vélez-Dávila
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: WNET, Artemis Rising Foundation, Maramara Films, ACT III Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Mature Thematic Content|A Sexual Reference|Suggestive Material)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 18, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 16, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $263.2K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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