Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3/4
"And I'm the one who's unfit?"
Rod - wrote on 09/03/2018
It reminded me of all the silly things I did when I was a child. It was a good film looking back to a child's mischief and little adventures until I realized it was actually more of the mother's story. Introduced likable characters and reflects real-life situation. I knew from the first five minutes of the film that I was practically watching a Wes Anderson film, with the color, the symmetry, panning, the comedic element, and the father issue, but all of these MORE ORGANIC. Half of the film I felt like nothing is really happening, no explicit conflict, i figured out that climax isn't coming soon. But that was not a problem because I enjoyed knowing the characters, and I appreciate the build-up. Everything went well until that minute right before the black-out and the credits. I was ready …
Rating of
3/4
The Florida Project
Leslie - wrote on 06/20/2018
Willem Dafoe is the glue that holds all of the other pieces together in "The Florida Project." Without Dafoe, who plays the even-keeled motel manager Bobby Hicks, this cinema verité styled film would disintegrate into loosely tied together improvisational scenes featuring non professional and first time actors. Dafoe is at his best when his character struggles to manage the moral dilemmas he’s presented at the hands of the guests of his "Magic Castle Motel," most of which are more like permanent residents. At times he is a strict disciplinarian and rule enforcer. At other times he is a playful and compassionate guardian. Waiting to see which part of Bobby’s personality emerges in the middle of any of his many guests’ crises proves to be just as nail bitingly anxious as the …
Rating of
3/4
Paradise; Lost
Chris Kavan - wrote on 02/18/2018
Sean Baker presents a bright, bubbly version of Florida as seen through the eyes of children, but beneath this candy-coated surface a dark reality hides as the adults, some of whom seem more childish than the kids around them, struggle to maintain a life and family.
Our main character is six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), who is staying at the ironically-named Magic Kingdom motel with her mother, Halley (Bria Vinaite). She hangs out with Scooty and Dicky (Christopher Rivera and Aiden Malik) and get in to no end of trouble. After spitting on a car, they are punished by building super Bobby (Willem Dafoe) but instead of a learning a valuable lesson, they go on more series of misadventures, befriending Jancey (Valeria Cotto) and score free meals from Halley's friend and Scooty's …
Rating of
3.5/4
The Florida Project - Review
Matthew Brady - wrote on 11/14/2017
LIFF31 2017 #4
"I can always tell when adults are about to cry".
"The Florida Project" is a bright candy-lit look on Florida lifestyle, which has it's dark moments underneath. The beautiful, but trashy Disney parody is presented from a little girls point of view. Every serious or traumatic event are completely overshadowed by a child; we only see it in the background. To be honest, a lot of the scenes in the film reminded me of "Moonlight". Little details that added to the similarities, but different in execution.
I haven't seen Sean Baker's "Tangerine ", so this is my first film from him and I gotta tell ya, it's a great start. While Baker directing isn't anything I could call a true master or anything, but the way directs certain scenes, even the ridiculous ones brings such …
