YMMV / The Florida Project

• Award Snub: While Willem Dafoe did receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actor, the film failed to get any other nominations at the Academy Awards despite its critical acclaim and the fact that it was long viewed as being one of the top potential front-runners for the ceremony. It has been theorized by some that its snubbing was because of Andrew Duncan, one of the film's producers, being accused of sexual harassment, as well as the fact that A24 decided to dedicate more time and effort into campaigning for Lady Bird than this film.
• Base-Breaking Character: Is Halley a troubled person doing her best and trying to provide for Moonee in difficult circumstances, or is she an unrepentant jerkass?
• Jerkass Woobie: Halley is rude, foul-mouthed, and incredibly immature, but it's obvious she didn't ask to live in a rundown motel raising a little girl all on her own.
• Moral Event Horizon: Halley finally crosses this when she beats Ashley in front of her own son .
• Narm:
  • Some have found Moonee's crying at the end somewhat off-putting.
  • Also Halley's slow-motion "FUCK YOUUUUUU!" toward the end of the movie somewhat ruins what is otherwise a heartbreaking scene.
• Squick: Halley sticking a used menstrual pad on a window.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: A lot of viewers find Halley to be this. Sure, it’s obvious she’s supposed to be a Jerkass Woobie considering her living conditions, but it doesn’t help that she’s rude, obnoxious, and tends to only make things worse for her and Moonee, whom she also happens to let wander off on her own with her friends. The fact she physically assaults Ashley near the end is the final nail in the coffin for many viewers.

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