"The Florida Project" Review - A Disney Quality Independent

“The Florida Project” is one hell of a love letter to being young. It’s easily one of the best independent movies I have seen in forever.

For those of you who don’t know, this movie is about a group of young kids and how they view the mostly homeless and truly torn town of Kissimmee, Florida, which is right outside of Walt Disney World. The director of this film shot an entire film on an iPhone before this. That’s how magnificent he is. And “The Florida Project” just furthers that even more.

What makes this film so different from others is it’s character development. Every scene is meant to build on each main character and that’s what I wish every independent film would do. Most nowadays just stick a string of scenes that don’t matter that drag the film on forever. Not this one. Every word of the script builds and builds and while there are many scenes that feel random, each does serve a purpose in the overall character development arc. The acting in this is spectacular. Willam Defoe gives an incredibly moving performance, as well as newbie, Bria Vinaite. The young kids in this film also do a phenomenal job. The main girl, Brooklyn Prince, gives in my opinion the 2nd best young actor performance of this year only behind the girl from Logan. Usually a child actor either speaks plain or is very hyper when they are put in the plot. This girl goes from adorably belching with her friend to crying intensely right in front of your eyes. The young Prince hits every mark possible when it comes to acting that I never thought I'd see from someone so young and I just know she is going to have a big future ahead of her just like that kid from “Room” last year.

“The Florida Project” is overall a devastating film about the homeless that live in this town and the twisted lives the adults have to deal with and go through. But this movie also uplifts the viewer’s imagination because the children literally make their own Disneyland experience out of what they have. That to me is what’s most meaningful and inspiring. It’s not what you don’t have, it’s what you do have. With the incredible cinematography, acting, writing, this independent masterpiece I believe will stand out big in this year’s awards season.

The last thing I shall add, the ending is platinum like perfect. It reminded me of the end of “Big Fish”, both the movie, and the musical. And it brought me back to these lyrics from the last song of the musical.

It ends with you

It ends with me

It ends the way a story's ending is supposed to be

A bit insane,

A touch of pain,

Adeptly told,

Yet uncontrolled,

It ends with faith

It ends with love

It ends with water in the river and the sun above

Part epic tale

Part fire sale

But all sincere

And standing here

Two Nebs Up!