One Good Movie - The Happiest Place on Earth

Hi friend,

I was in the States last month filling up on hamburgers, tacos, and Coors Banquet.

I’ve been thinking about America. Barcelona is lovely, but I cherish a Midwest summer.

Recently, Sean Baker won the Palme d’Or for his film Anora. He’s the first American director to win in over a decade. But we can’t see that movie yet.

Baker came to fame for shooting his feature film Tangerine on an iPhone 5S.

He makes comedy dramas about people on the edge of society. Some of his obsessions include broken families, class, criminals, and sex work.

My kind of director.

The Florida Project

Six-year-old Moonee lives at the Magic Castle Inn and Suites with her single mother. Her budget motel home is a few miles from Walt Disney World.

“The Florida Project” was the original code name for Disney World.

Moonee, played by Brooklynn Prince, finds fun and adventure around the motel while her mother grapples with poverty.

Willem Dafoe brings warmth and humor as the motel’s manager.

On paper Baker’s movie sounds like a drag, but he imbues his film with joy, humor, and a love of human beings.

111 minutes.

-Guy

Epilogue

Challengers rips.

I saw it in the theater. I wish I had seen it on IMAX.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross build a soundtrack that slaps you in the face.

The film is about modern relationships, class, professional sports, and sex.

But all the f***ing happens on the tennis court.

Luca Guadagnino smashes his beautiful European camerawork onto an American romantic pop film.

Worth your streaming dollar.