Movie of the Week: ‘The Florida Project’

With the Oscars arriving this month (April 25), we’re looking back at films and performances that the Academy missed.  Director Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” was our #1 film of 2017, but it sadly wasn’t nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.  Thankfully, the Academy nominated Willem Dafoe for Best Supporting Actor, however, he lost the gold statue to Sam Rockwell in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”.   We love Rockwell in that film but feel that Dafoe’s restrained performance – as a manager of a budget apartment complex called The Magic…

‘The Shape of Water’ and ‘Three Billboards’ share the Phoenix Critics Circle’s Best Picture award

On Dec. 15, the Phoenix Critics Circle, along with their friends and spouses, enjoyed a festive evening at the Phoenix Film Foundation office and announced its winners for the best films, performances and technical categories of 2017. Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” and Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” both took the top prize for Best Picture  – via a tie – during an evening of two other ties as well.   “Three Billboards” was the big winner with four wins, closely followed by Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”…

Sean Baker constructs ‘The Florida Project’, one of the best films of 2017

“The Florida Project” – “Childhood means simplicity.  Look at the world with the child’s eye – it’s very beautiful.”  – Kailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights and education advocate “These are the rooms we’re not supposed to go in, but let’s go anyway!” – Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) Families from all over target Orlando, Fla. as a vacation city, because of its famous theme parks, and Disney’s Magic Kingdom shines as its crown jewel.  According to a June 1, 2017 The New York Times article, 20.4 million people visited the Magic Kingdom…