‘The Florida Project’ sheds light on income inequality
“The Florida Project” (2017, Lionsgate, R, $25) is proof that a movie can be both exhilarating and harrowing at the same time.
An Orlando motel overseen by a kindly manager (Willem Dafoe) is the setting for this drama, which pivots on a youngster named Moonee (Brooklyn Prince) as she spends her days running around the complex and its neighboring facilities.
There’s not much of a story but there’s plenty of tension thanks to the efforts of Moonee’s rebellious yet loving mom (Bria Vinaite) to raise money for the rent. As “The Florida Project” goes along, it grows more heartbreaking, turning into a sharp indictment of income inequality in America. Extras: featurettes and outtakes.
Also New to DVD
Same Kind of Different As Me (2017, Paramount, PG13, $28): The rare faithbased film which avoids an overdose of sentimentality, this drama carries a welcome message about the importance of community activism. Greg Kinnear and Renee Zellweger star as a wealthy Texas couple whose lives are enriched after they volunteer at a local soup kitchen and befriend a homeless drifter named Denver (Djimon Hounsou). Denver’s transformation from an angry ex-con into Kinnear’s even-keeled best friend is a bit sudden but Hounsou delivers such a soulful performance that he nearly makes it all play. Extras: commentaries and featurettes.
It Takes From Within
(2017, First Run, unrated,
$28): If you’re in the mood for a movie which features cryptically pretentious dialogue, endlessly long takes and awkward performances, check out this odd entry. All others, beware. Elizabeth James and Gabriel Lopez star as a couple who are spending time in a desolate town awaiting a funeral. A few of the scenes, particularly one involving James confronting a woman tethered to her porch, are compelling. But none of the interludes really connect. Clearly influenced by European arthouse hits of the 1960s, “It Takes” plays more like a parody than a homage. Extras: commentary. Inoperable (2017, Cinedigm, unrated, $15): Scream queen Danielle Harris dominates this strange little thriller about an accident victim who wakes up in a hospital bracing for a hurricane. But as Harris strolls the empty hallways, she also discovers that members of the staff have gone beserk. What’s up? The less you know about this suspenser, the better because there are shocks lurking around every corner. A “twist” ending feels tacked-on but until then, “Inoperable” is sure to terrify fans who like their scary movies tricky and trippy. Extras: commentaries.