The last of the nominated actors and films that we saw was The Florida Project with Willem Dafoe as the Supporting Actor nominee. The film focuses on a single mother, Halley, and daughter who live a life in the grasps of poverty in a motel just outside the gates of Disneyworld. Moonee, the precocious seven or eight year old daughter, is left to her own with a couple of friends during the summer in which the film takes place. They find ways to amuse them selves by throwing a dead fish in a pool and even setting a vacant building on fire. It is a powerful film as it depicts the way of life of too many of our population. Dafoe gives a very strong performance as the manager of the motel, who really does understand the kids and tries to do his best in giving the mother some breaks. The ending, as shocking as it is to watch, was not that unsuspected.
Cast
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Brooklynn Prince
as Moonee
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Willem Dafoe
as Bobby
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Bria Vinaite
as Halley
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Christopher Rivera
as Scooty
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Valeria Cotto
as Jancey
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Caleb Landry Jones
as Jack
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Macon Blair
as Tourist John
Director
What a powerful movie this was. It is definitely not for the faint at heart or those who might be disturbed by the use of the F word. Set in a very rural town of Ebbing, Missouri, it is the portrayal of a woman who has lost her daughter to burning in a fire after being raped. Her frustration with the local police results in an emotional act of renting 3 billboards that brings the police department and the sheriff to task for their lack of progress in solving the crime. Throughout there is depiction of rural racism, police brutality, alcoholism, marital strife, and empathy for the victim's family. Frances McDormand is beyond outstanding in her role as Mildred Hayes, as is Sam Rockwell playing the racist cop. Academy award nominations for sure.
Cast
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Frances McDormand
as Mildred Hayes
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Woody Harrelson
as Sheriff Bill Willoughby
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Sam Rockwell
as Officer Jason Dixon
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Abbie Cornish
as Anne
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Caleb Landry Jones
as Red
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Kathryn Newton
as Angela
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Clarke Peters
as Abercrombie
Director
