This year’s selections highlight the evolution of cinema in terms of spectacle and grandiose storytelling. Three very different films take to the stars, proving the “Space U” moniker for the University of Central Florida is also deeply engrained in our film culture. While Sarasota has been a patron city of the arts, it once held the distinct honor as the winter home for a world-renowned circus. To this day, the Ringling legacy continues in art and commerce. Finally, a working animation studio in Orlando allowed the Walt Disney Company to share the process of crafting animated features with a generation of guests. That insight, including tours of the working studio during productions in the late 1990s, allowed many of our members to see the incredible efforts of hand-drawn animation in real-time. That legacy highlighted the importance of animation as a medium and art form.
As part of our mission, we aim to celebrate the achievements of the creative teams that work in our region. We seek to cultivate a collection of iconic movies that will continue to represent Central Florida and the diverse stories that are capable in our hometowns. All of the films have significant ties to the Central Florida area. Below are the five films in the Class of 2024.
Films Selected for the 2023 Critics Association of Central Florida Hall of Fame
(chronological order)
Documenting one of the most significant events in human history, director Todd Douglas Miller builds an emotionally complex vision of the landmark mission. Taking us into the cockpit of the Apollo 11 launch, Miller allows the footage captured by Buzz Adrin to speak volumes about the claustrophobia and personal stakes. The moments before the launch highlight an era of Florida life, and signal the importance of Kennedy Space Center to the Central Florida region. Those moments create a portrait of 1960s America on the verge of change.
Few directors are as controversial or polarizing as Michael Bay. However, it’s easy to forget that Armageddon, for all its grandiose effects, remains a landmark feature. Not only does it highlight some of the best young talent in Hollywood, while also highlights an incredible cast of character actors. Aerosmith and Dianne Warren’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” transcended the film. Most importantly, it’s one of Bay’s most effective uses of sentimentality in high-end blockbusters. For better or worse, Armageddon was one of the first Criterion films and provided a more modern look at the Kennedy Space Center - which Bay shot to perfection.
Just 4 years before Cecil B. DeMille would deliver the great Biblical epic The Ten Commandments, DeMille brought his cameras here to Central Florida. Sarasota was the Winter HQ for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Greatest Show On Earth would feature long performances from these local performers amid the background drama led by Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, and Jimmy Stewart. It had all the elements you might expect from the epic films of the day. Bad guys try to steal the circus and hurt the performers. Heston's Brad Braden is the hero trying to save it all. When the film beat out High Noon for Best Picture it was a surprise to an audience who thought it might not be much more than an advertisement for the circus. Of course, it wasn't. The film featured one of the most iconic f/x shots of the time. The train derailment scene would go on to inspire a young Steven Spielberg. Now the film stands as a vintage snapshot of the circus’ heydays that started each year right here in Central Florida.
Released at the tail end of the Disney Renaissance, Mulan (1998) proved to be one of Disney’s most ambitious outings. The story, based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, shed many of the clichés and stereotypes that had plagued earlier depictions of women in their animated features. Mulan was not a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. She was not motivated or driven by romantic interests. Instead, the character, voiced by Ming-Na Wen (speaking voice) and Lea Salonga (singing voice), was depicted as a headstrong and confident woman determined to save her family. From first time directors Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft, Mulan has remained one of Disney’s most treasured works, featuring beautiful animation, memorable music and a hysterical voice performance from Eddie Murphy at the height of his popularity. The stunning feature was brought to life through the diligent work of its animators right here in Central Florida at MGM/Hollywood Studios in Orlando.
Despite its disastrous box office performance upon its initial release, 1983’s The Right Stuff remains a historically significant achievement in cinema, even being selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. With an all-star ensemble featuring memorable performances from Dennis Quaid, Ed Harris, Barbara Hershey, Lance Henriksen and Sam Shephard, the film went on to win four of the eight Oscar nominations it received. It’s a riveting depiction of the Mercury Seven, the real-life heroes selected for Project Mercury who faced unfathomable risk as the first astronauts to enter space. Highlighting Central Florida’s important role in space exploration, the film features significant scenes set at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
To qualify, films must have been released to the public for a minimum of five years. The film must also have a significant connection to the Central Florida area. This connection can be through its use as a narrative setting, having shot the film on location in the region, or having been created by filmmakers from Central Florida.
The Critics Association of Central Florida is an organization of critics based in or around the Central Florida area. It consists of critics and journalists with a broad reach to a diverse and expansive audience. All members must review at least twenty-five new release films annually, with many reviewing hundreds of titles yearly.
As our organization reaches its fourth year of existence, we expanded to 46 critics in 2024. Our membership represents outlets of all sizes, from independent blogs to social media influencers to major outlets such as iHeartRadio’s PRIDE Radio and FandomWire.
The Critics Association of Central Florida is proud to recognize these exceptional achievements in film. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or requests.