Review – The Florida Project

The Florida Project is one of those movies that plants a seed in you and keeps growing long after you see it.  I saw this movie a few weeks ago and I am still thinking about it.  Whether it is the themes of the movie, moments in the movie, or even just a single shot or line of dialog, The Florida Project is something that I think about on a daily basis.  Director Sean Baker has truly made one of 2017’s best films.

Set over a summer, The Florida Project follows six year old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), a precocious six year old who lives with her rebellious mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) in an motel complex on the outskirts of Disney World.  Throughout the summer, we watch as Moonee gets into a lot of shenanigans with her friends, which causes problems for her mother and puts a strain on the motel’s manager (Willem Dafoe).

Director Sean Baker has created something truly special here.  He throws us into the mind of Moonee and we never leave.  This allows Baker to show everything that is happening, yet leave out certain details as to how a child would understand the gravity of each situation, forcing us as the viewer to put all the pieces together.  Each scene peels away layers until we fully understand what is happening, causing a number of emotional moments throughout the film.  Whether it is a conversation with a pedophile or slowly watching Halley lose control of her life, we witness big and small moments that stir every emotion.  You’ll laugh, you’ll be angry, and your heart will break.

Baker also shows us the homeless epidemic in Florida.  Baker brings us into the world of this motel and shows us how tragic of a life it is, but also shows us how Moonee sees it.  Moonee looks at this motel as her world.  It is a brightly colored adventureland filled with all of her favorite activities and all of her friends.  To everyone else, though, it is a sad place.  A home for people who don’t have an actual place to go.  A motel that lives in the shadow of Disney World and all the tourism and happiness.  Baker’s camera shows us both sides of this motel and it is brightly colored, eye-opening juxtaposition of actual life.

Willem Dafoe gives one of the best performances of 2017 and one of the best of his career here.  Playing the motel’s manager Bobby, he has the tough task of keeping the motel functioning while dealing with the people who occupy the rooms.  He is a man who is more invested in the lives of the people and children living in the motel than he is with his own family and kids.  This causes a great strain on Bobby and we see the angst and struggle in Dafoe’s demeanor and eyes.  When Halley’s life begins to spiral out of control, the revelation that she might lose Moonee sinks in and Bobby knows the affect this would have on Moonee, as he has caused a similar strain on his own life.  It is powerful work by Dafoe and should garner him an Oscar this year.

The performances from the children are all great, especially Prince, who is the heart and soul of the movie as Moonee.  As said above, this movie is seen through the eyes and the mind of Moonee and it takes a talented actress to carry that for the entire movie and Prince does it with no problem.  From the happiness of getting food with her mom to the anger and sadness in the film’s finale, Prince convey’s a full range of emotion and gives us a rounded character while only being six years old.  It’s sensational work.  Vinaite is equally impressive as Halley.  Halley isn’t a great person, but the one thing she does love her daughter more than anything in the world.  She would do anything for her daughter, regardless of reputation or risk.  She’s endearing, yet frustrating because her attitude gets the best of her and forces her to make the wrong decision.  This is one of the best debut performances of the year.

The Florida Project is a truly special experience.  Sean Baker has created a vibrant, heartbreaking, authentic film.  He puts us into the mind of a child and shows us a dark world full of optimism.  The performances are terrific, the cinematography is stunning, and the emotion is real.  The Florida Project is one of the best movies of 2017.

Did you see The Florida Project?  What did you think?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter and Instagram, @kevflix, or on Facebook by searching Kevflix.