THE FLORIDA PROJECT (2017) - Movie Review

Sorry, I meant to say Sean Baker's previous film was "Tangerine." Not "Tangerine Dream." Tangerine Dream is one of my favorite bands from the 70s. XD
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[@juanvalenzuela1183]

Baker's real gift is his ability to explore these characters without a hint of judgement. He is definitely a humanist filmmaker. Great review.

[@MontyDatta]

Wow surprised this wasn't even nominated for Best Cinematography. It's so beautiful. Loved the characters and the world the movie explored. It's a fun film also while being really tragic. Loved it. The kid and William Defoe were so great but the mom was the star imo. She was amazing for never acting before this movie.

[@electricmastro]

This and Tangerine make Sean Baker look like he's shaping up to be an up-and-coming director. I've actually noticed this with nine other promising directors that have directed a movie this year: Armando Iannucci: In the Loop, The Death of Stalin Dee Rees: Pariah, Mudbound Destin Daniel Cretton: Short Term 12, The Glass Castle Frank D'Angelo: Real Gangsters, Sicilian Vampire, The Neighborhood Lynne Ramsay: Ratcatcher, We Need to Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here Niki Caro: Whale Rider, North Country; McFarland, USA; The Zookeeper's Wife Ric Roman Waugh: Felon, Shot Caller S. Craig Zahler: Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99 Simon Curtis: My Week with Marilyn, Woman in Gold, Goodbye Christopher Robin

[@accorsistudios]

One of the reasons why I'm on youtube looking up reviews about this film is because of the "steam" you just released. Its a film that for days, I've been thinking and weighing about the details. Identifying so much with Moonie and her brash mischievousness from start to finish. Sean Baker deserves a lot of credit for sparking these discussions and striking a chord within a lot of us. I think people who may not have liked this film aren't at a place where they can get past the distaste for some of the crazy shit in this film. It was hard for me, but really, really glad it was made. It restored my faith in American film. Thanks for posting this - I'll subscribe and stay tuned.

[@13Tiradentes]

Willem DaFoe has been one of America's finest character actors since the 80's. His range is extraordinary and well demonstrated by the caliber of performances he's given at the direction of Oliver Stone, Alan Parker, David Lynch and Martin Scorsese among others. He's also an excellent actor to play against having worked alongside Gene Hackman, Mickey Rourke, Nicolas Cage and Tom Berenger. A pure top rate craftsman. Interestingly, DaFoe secured one of his most iconic roles, i.e., Jesus Christ, after DeNiro rejected it despite the fact Scorsese thought DeNiro would've been right for the role. So what project did DeNiro pick up instead? Angel Heart where he played Luis Cypher. It must have been the Devil made him do it! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[@sjkdec18]

Thank you for your review. I really loved this movie and I liked how you characterized the "in-between" moments. The movie is so raw, so tragic, yet so beautiful.

[@syedhaider1675]

I'm so glad that you reviewed this movie. What you said towards the end literally gave me goosebumps because that's exactly how I felt about it but, of course, I never had right words to describe it as you do. You always have the perfect words :) I really really enjoyed this review. Florida Project has become my second most favourite movie from 2017. I still think that A Ghost Story was the best movie of the year and undoubtedly one of the greatest movies ever made. It's such an original movie and it actually made me suffer with existential crisis for weeks haha. Have you seen it yet?

[@McLarenMercedes]

Tangerine Dream are awesome, I agree. :) Though to be fair I think their 70's and early 80's works stands out and their later work is a bit run-of-the-mill. The 5CD box *Tangents 1973-1983* was constantly on play on my hi-fi equipment cirka 2011 or so. Prepared me for my university studies. Great days. It was also great to recognize pieces from that very compilation when I later saw some films which used Tangerine Dream music. I'm constantly reminded by your awesome taste - in music as well as films. Good review too. I'll definitely watch it.

[@hamzarouri8454]

Just watched this film for first time and I loved it. Great critique as usual, I especially loved when you compared it to the French New Wave. I caught that myself, as there were parts of the film that reminded me The 400 Blows and Zazie Dans Le Metro.

[@timn6378]

I rewatched it and the scene you descirbed with the mom and daughter playing in the rain is so heartbreaking on the 2nd viewing because I know how it will end.

[@jakeharriman490]

Very thorough review, I agree about the drama in the film and how it doesn't find its real capture until the very end. It was very ironic showing the bright colors in Florida like colors on the motels walls, but also capturing the poverty in the characters lives. Willem Dafoe as well as Brooklynn Prince were just priceless to watch. It was hilarious at points and insightful watching it through the eyes of kids.

[@David-nl1zt]

The people who didn't like this movie are shallow and without a heart. This movie was so beautiful and also heartbreaking to watch. I loved the ending...

[@anthonygonzalez514]

I feel both this film and Mid 90's would go excellent as a double feature. They both nail what they're attempting to achieve genuinely, while both films casts are full of (for the most part) non actors/new actors.

[@tonybennett4159]

You mentioned the French New Wave, and I agree, but remember that here in the UK we have the great humanist director Ken Loach who can find moments of humour and redemption in the most grimy of environments. Anyway, The Florida Project has been much admired over here, though sadly not bringing in the big money that it deserves.

[@seabassseabass8835]

Currently watching this movie... I'm unsure if I want to finish it🤔 I'm from South Florida... when I was a little boy...this is what we did as kids during the hot summers. I can still smell the urine in the elevator 😫 I did enjoy the Brazilian tourist and the ice cream scene.

[@BruceWayne-pm6co]

Hi I just found out about you today by searching for a Blow Up movie review. You earned a new sub 🙂.

[@danielmunoz456]

First shot you see her mom I said “now that’s how you introduce a character!”

[@ZombieZifiction]

unsurprisingly, you're one of the only people ive seen that actually gets this movie.

[@sadiqurrahman9741]

Thank you very much for the thoughtful review.

[@jaydean5724]

Awesome movie. Great review.

[@PrinceDepecheMode]

Love it !!! Finally on Netflix recently added....

[@vanillatje8339]

Did you see The Killing of a Sacred Deer?

[@TheArmchairHistorian]

Have you seen Dr. Strangelove? Griff

[@DarkInksIndiaGaming]

The best scene was when they were at the buffet. I cried. 😢

[@vincenzohhh]

Jesus Christ you're knowledgeable, I aspire to be as educated on film as You! Subscribed 👍

[@leobergmiller873]

Great review! How would you compare this film to Moonlight? I've heard some reviews compare them a little but if this movie is anywhere near as good as Moonlight then I'm sure as hell gonna watch it.

[@maniic3po]

Wasn't a huge fan of the film but you've convinced me to give it a rewatch!

[@elvalouise6200]

You all may not be aware but the area in this film is not right next to Disney World. It's actually in Kissimmee and is not within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom. When Walt Disney built Disney World ( which is twice the size of the island of Manhattan) he bought up so much land so he wouldn't have gaudy hotels and businesses near the theme parks ( a lesson he learned after building Disneyland) . If you drove to the main parking lot of the Magic Kingdom without traffic it would probably take 15-20 minutes depending on which direction you decided to go. I'm mentioning this because I believe some people are under the impression that this poverty is right under Disney's nose and it's not.

[@CosmicStargoat]

Great review of a very unique movie that liked a lot. The performances were stunning. Regards, Goat from Ruthless Reviews.

[@searchingformyself5319]

This is actually the first time I've heard of this. I may have to check it out now!

[@menevetsny]

Saw Human Flow a week later after this movie and was thinking about similarities despite how different they are. People who say this movie didn't offer any hope need to get a clue.

[@amberdiaz116]

Awesome review!!!

[@steverok67]

Wonderful film. Thank you for the review !

[@kdcndw1]

Tangerine Dream FAN. Cool. Have you seen the Blu Ray of Sorcerer? Amazing transfer. Tangerine Dream's score is fabulous. It's a remake but I think it's a marvel.

[@tmonjr8490]

Thank you for the review. I loved looking at you.

[@rcordiner]

I understood the ending as being a fiction created by the little red head as a coping mechanism to the unbearable reality she's confronted with.

[@RealAly]

Just wondering - do you have notes somewhere or do you just so casually can speak about a movie without long pauses? You intrigued me, going to watch this movie!

[@deepfocuslens]

I have notes that I refer to. Bullet points mainly. Thanks. :)

[@patrickriley674]

I would love to see this movie....If only they would show it at my local theater. 😕

[@Giantshredder]

I absolutely love this movie, idk why.

[@MrBraveheart1191]

The motel is not called magic kingdom but magic castle 🙂

[@seabassseabass8835]

Movie has it's moments...love the relationship between the kids and Willem Dafoe. The ending is very moving 👍

[@Calcuttaboy1889]

If you like The Florida Project, watch 'Pather Panchali', the first film of Ray's Apu Trilogy. It's pretty much the American Pather Panchali.

[@TheCinemaMonologues]

That's very generous towards this film. Pather Panchali is a masterpiece.

[@Calcuttaboy1889]

I'm not saying Florida Project is an equal to Pather Panchali in terms of quality, because it's not. All I'm saying is, if you've seen Panchali, it's very tough to not get constantly reminded of it while watching Florida Project.

[@TheCinemaMonologues]

Yeah I can sort of see that. I really need to rewatch Satyajit Ray films, haven't seen them in ages

[@rishabhvashishtha8588]

Where did you see it?

[@lyhuewynegar7312]

Why edit out the human side of your video? It keeps jumping from cut to cut. The little moments of rambling makes a vid special . Cheers

[@tmac8892]

Tangerine dream? Disneyland? Hotel is the magic castle.

[@madnero5508]

Disneyland is in California, Disney World is in Florida.

[@1080TJ]

I've heard from several reviews that this film drops the ball at the very end. As in, the last minute or so. Would you say that's true?

[@deepfocuslens]

Not at all. That was my favorite part.

[@menevetsny]

I'm glad I didn't hear about the ending controversy before seeing this.

[@jonathanoneill8011]

Ending was fantastic!

[@phaedrus7971]

The end was the best part. The very opposite of falling apart. Those reviews must’ve been written by guys who are embarrassed that the little girls made them cry at the end.

[@David-nl1zt]

TJ Hastie Best movie I've seen in a long time. Beautiful and sad, it had a serious emotional impact on me.

[@maridepp53]

Great review!

[@nickimarrocco]

Can you review the 400 blows at some point?

[@deepfocuslens]

Absolutely.

[@Aman-cx4iw]

Great review! I loved the film as well. I recently watched two of Dennis Villeneuve's movies: Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. You should check them out. There are both very well done and give you plenty to think about. I am sure you'll love them too!

[@MatthewLedZepfan]

I loved this film, but I thought the music in the very last scene should have been different. It just didn't fit

[@msher1438]

I rode the helicopter!

[@MOBROOKS]

I hated the people in this film with the exception of Bobby.

[@phaedrus7971]

You pop with vivid beauty

[@mohammedawad7510]

you really dont care about 2049...do you?

[@youmarc11]

Disneyworld

[@drumdude46]

Not that i wasn’t warned...but, for all my upbeat anticipation ( due to the egregiously misleading ‘trailer) somehow believing i was going to be treated to a sweet film about the ‘ode to the wonder and magic of childhood’ .... i am left somewhat furious, troubled, and a bit sick to my stomach, at the bleak, desperate, sometimes-cruel... ...essentially ‘awful’ peering, into the lives of a single-parent, uber-white-trash foul-mouthed ( yes...right in front of the child) gonzo-tattoo’d young mother, “Holley’...played by Bria Vinaite, trying to survive barely ‘off the street’...and her (for now) innocent young daughter, both having to live in impoverishment, in an Orlando Florida ‘ghetto-chic’ 3-story weekly motel... sternly and dutifully managed by Willem Dafoe. There are some lighthearted scenes early on, between the unit kids and Dafoe,...( they did do a lot of running around and screaming, much to Willems shagrin, which i imagine the director believed would come off as ‘darling’...but i found mega-annoying mostly, even as much as i liked the kids) but... that’s about where it ended. the film then delves into the ‘not-so-innocent’, unattractive-side’ of a gritty lower-demographic, and the often low-minded, high school dropout level banter....rife with a dialog befitting the low-achiever’ status of the films motel occupants, and made up mostly of rather Banal, Strident Platitudes. The trailer completely obfuscated what was to come as we venture deeper inside the film itself, and imo, they deceptively imaged, a cheerfull ‘coming of age’ ‘magic-of-childhood’ tale, when....after about the first 20 minutes...the movie plunges into some very dark-storytelling and portrayals of the brutal, harsh ‘survival-instinct’ lives of tenents having to exist nearly at the brink, families living in little more than a 250 sq. ft motel room, often there, due to general-unemployment, overall- misfortune, obviously the drug lifestyle, and no doubt, poor choices. The ending really bummed me out, as, despite the ugliness that surrounded these people and their living predicament.... they had ‘character-developed’... a strong bond with the Mom, and her sweet 7 year old daughter “Moonee’...played by Brooklyn Prince. at the end of the film, CPS’s are called and are trying to pry the child away from the mom....and it’s just heartwrenching.... and...i was even left wondering what in the hell director Sean Baker, was attempting to ‘say.... As ‘Mooney and a friend are seen escaping somehow?....and running away from the Motel property, unsupervised, across traffic and end up skipping toward the disney entrance? ...disturbing... as if the little girl is enjoying her last ‘moment of childhood, stolen away by these unwelcome, undeserved circumstances. in the last heartbreaking scene, absolute chaos ensues, as two agents from Child Services come to separate them. it was horrific. the Mother, as much as i tried to like her’ ( she did’...love her daughter and throughout the film, is portrayed as doing all she can to be a friend, and do her best for the child...given their circumstances) .... ends up revealing behaviours attributed to ensuing hardships, and that ubiquitous ‘ghetto’ persona and ‘ingorant-swag’ act, so many are afflicted with today. the language also deteriorated, as the film progressed; about every other word from the Mom was ‘Fuck....and the Director doesn’t spare the unfortunate children, well within earshot of theese hositle expletive-laden tirades from the parents, having them taking the good brunt’ of many foul-mouthed exchanges between film characters. ??? ( and we wonder why todays kids are off the rails?) i walked away basically feeling ‘sick’...over the ripping apart of a Mother and Childs loving bond’ however, and the sad state of affairs overall. a real-life tragedy that plays out everyday somewhere, to be sure..... Despite Dafoe’s presence in the film (he ends up somewhat a ‘ghost’... in the final moments.. where your thinking he’s going to perhaps do something to intervene or stop CPS’s from taking the young girl....but ends up smoking a cigarette out back, while the madness unfolds in front of their room. In the end i was left trembling a bit, and just basically ‘upset’...at what i had just put myself thru, to watch. 5/10....is all i got for this disturbing and ultimately dark, sad glimpse into the lives of so many (children included) who end up surviving just to live under the middle-class bar line. - G

[@gc1282]

STFU 🤣

[@HangOvergroup]

You used too much of Guardian's review for this film, u don't have to review every film

[@neogeoriffic]

Big fan of A24 and really wanted to like this film but I didn't. Those annoying spoiled kids never shut up and the storyline goes nowhere. It's a grotesque portrayal of America at its lowest. Don't waste your time or money!

[@swim10]

Hated this movie, just dragged on