'The Florida Project' 4K UHD Blu-Ray Deluxe Edition Review

A single mother and her young daughter struggle with near-homelessness during the Florida summer heat. Staying at the Magic Castle Inn, they make friends, hustle tourists, and do what they can to make ends meet

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Video Quality

The new 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Florida Project from Second Sight Films offers a subtle yet welcome uptick in quality over the accompanying Blu-Ray. The film arrives with a new 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR master produced and approved by director Sean Baker. This label is based in the UK, but the 4K UHD disc in this set will play in all 4K UHD Blu-Ray players, including those in the United States. The included Blu-Ray discs (available for purchase separately or in this now Out of Print Deluxe Edition) are Region B locked, which means you will need a region-free player to play the discs or a player-specific workaround like the “Top Menu” trick I used on my Panasonic player. The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc includes all of the special features, so you would not be missing out on anything except the movie on Blu-Ray if you could not access the discs.

The new 4K UHD easily allows the film to look the best it ever has on home entertainment. The film was shot with a variety of sources, including an iPhone for a key moment near the end, yet everything blends together for a cohesive experience. Second Sight Films has proven time and time again that they are one of the best boutique labels in the business. This new release preserves the aesthetic of the feature that juxtaposes the gritty motel life with the visage of the “Happiest Place on Earth” down the street. These shots are replete with vital textures and detail. Bakes conjures an organic appearance within the digital realm complete with bold lighting choices that ground the film in something special.

The utilization of Dolby Vision aids the contrast of the film with lovingly deep black levels that do not succumb to any banding during the nighttime scenes. These moments reveal so much shadow detail that cannot be achieved with a lesser format. Highlights offer more impressive stability without veering into blooming. The UHD delights in a feast of bold colors in the buildings, clothing, and lighting. Skin tones look natural, and the clarity of the transfer gives you an excellent amount of facial detail. You can easily distinguish specific details within the makeup, perspiration, and production design that were not as defined previously. The various interiors are also given more depth, revealing so much character. The new 4K UHD disc is as close to perfect as one could get for this movie.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray delivers a sensational audio experience with the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio presentation that gives the film a deeply immersive soundscape. The front channels take on the majority of the dialogue and other discrete sounds, but activity extends to the surround and rear speakers to make the world feel more all-encompassing. The low-end effects from the subwoofer are not as engaged as they might be with a traditional action film, but moments such as helicopters taking off have the necessary presence. Atmospheric sound effects are effortlessly rendered within the mix so that the directionality is always accurate. The music perfectly saturates the room and grounds you in the world of the story. Dialogue remains crisp and clear without ever getting drowned out by the music or sound effects. Second Sight Films has knocked it out of the park. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Second Sight Films had an optional Deluxe Edition of The Florida Project that is magnificent in person. The release is sadly now out of print, but it is worth it if you can still track it down. The release includes a 160-page hardback book with new essays by Tim Coleman, Martyn Conterio, Elena Lazic, Hannah McGill, Dawn Stronski, and Nadine Witney, plus an on-set photo gallery. You also have 8 collectors’ on-set photo art cards. The on-disc special features are as follows:

4K UHD Blu-Ray

Audio Commentaries: There are two amazing new commentary tracks provided that explore the film through both a personal and analytical lens. The reflections on the production from the creative team deliver some great stories about working with the locals and overcoming certain obstacles, while the film historians peel back certain layers that make you appreciate certain elements of the story even more.

- Audio Commentary #1: Director Sean Baker, Co-Writer Chris Bergoch, and Director of Photography Alexis Zabé

- Audio Commentary #2: Film historians Kat Ellinger and Martyn Conterio

Interviews: Second Sight has conducted an incredible array of new interviews in which virtually all of the key talent comes together to reflect on the making of the movie and share memories of how everything came together and how it impacted their lives.

- Success Story: A New Interview with Sean Baker (34:48)

- Playing Within the Frame: A New Interview with Actor Willem Dafoe (20:08)

- A Transformative Experience: A New Interview with Actor Bria Vinaite (27:52)

- The Kids: A New Interview with Actors Brooklynn Kimberly Prince, Valeria Cotto and Christopher Rivera (17:15)

- Origin Story: A New Interview with Actor Brooklynn Kimberly Prince (20:17)

- True Friendship: A New Interview with Actor Valeria Cotto (7:51)

- Overusing Freedom: A New Interview with Actor Christopher Rivera (6:36)

- Embrace the Chaos: A New Interview with Co-writer Chris Bergoch (20:23)

- Clearing the Brush: A New Interview with Producer Andrew Duncan (15:18)

- A Different Way of Shooting: A New Interview with Producers Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestri (19:51)

- A Sense of Imagination: A New Interview with Associate Producer Samantha Quan (16:27)

- Hotel to Home: A New Interview with Executive Director of Community Hope Center Rev. Mary Downey (13:55)

- Streets of 192: A New Interview with Casting Coordinator Patti Wiley (6:43)

Back to the Castle – On Location with Brooklynn Kimberly Prince, Valeria Cotto and Christopher Rivera: A new 17-minute featurette in which the main trio of kids revisits some of the locations that they shot at and share memories of their experiences.

Wretched Splendour – Rohan Spong on The Florida Project: A nearly 19-minute new visual essay that explores some of the themes of the film as various moments are explored and analyzed.

Under the Rainbow – Making The Florida Project: A 22-minute piece that gives a fly-on-the-wall look at the creation of the movie.

Archive Cast & Crew Interviews: A 50-minute collection of archival interviews with the cast and creative team in which they discuss the ideas behind the movie, the experiences during the production, and much more.
Bloopers & Outtakes: A three-minute assemblage of flubbed lines, laughing fits, candid moments, and more.

Final Thoughts

The Florida Project finds director Sean Baker marrying his loose, naturalistic style with a deceptively effective and multifaceted tale of class dynamics and parental neglect that unfolds through the eyes of a precious young character who is trying to understand the world as presented to her. Brooklynn Prince is the discovery of a lifetime as she brings so much nuance to this character who is a live wire of energy. The ensemble of mostly nonprofessional performers lends serious authenticity to the story, but Willem Dafoe brings his years of experience and shapes his understated performance into an individual who blends seamlessly with the larger world. It is one of the best from the filmmaker. Second Sight Films has released a lovely new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a magnificent A/V presentation and an impressive assortment of new and archival special features. This is a no-brainer for anyone looking to add the best version to their collection. Highly Recommended

The Florida Project is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Second Sight Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.