"Moonlight"
Taking place mostly in a rough drug infested neighborhood
of South Florida near Miami, the film “Moonlight” revolves centrally around the
emotionally heartbreaking story of one young man's personal story told across
three defining chapters in his life. The first delving into his withdrawn shy adolescence,
then from the perspective of total isolation as a teenager devoid of any close friends
and then as a 20 something adult man who is extremely guarded in making new relationships
of any kind. In each three phases of his life the film tracks his daily struggles
to find the courage within himself to accept his sexuality which is culturally
taboo.
“Moonlight” is a brilliantly crafted film from new
comer Director Barry Jenkins. It bathes itself
in an authentic minute to minute reality that makes you feel you are occupying the
same space. Mostly because the Director Jenkins had the courage for his cast to
have long meaningful well-paced heart felt conversations with each other that
at times were uplifting and other times would simply leave your soul crushed in
half; you feel the pain and the torment.
The story’s structure overall is a very quiet and
grounded film that takes no sharp turns from one scene to the next. There are
no surprise endings or gimmicks to spring on you. No faux subplots to distract
you. There is not one false move in the films story telling. There
isn’t even an obvious sex scene which one would be surprised by given the core plot
of the movie is the emotional matter of the young man trying to understand his own
sexuality.
From the look of the film it’s obviously clear
that “Moonlight” is a low budged film. But because the characters seemed so real
in the moment the entire film’s story make it feels much bigger and grander than
itself. It moves with a magnificence for the viewer’s benefit to understand the
emotional conundrum of the young’s man’s journey. You don’t judge him or his
story – you observe.
MOONLIGHT IS NOT ABOUT SEX. But what Moonlight is, is something both
uniquely special, uniquely raw and uniquely authentic. It is also something
that is very delicate. Something that is emotionally soaring. Something that is
magically executed. Something that is very well acted across the board.
“Moonlight” is perfect each step of the way. And
superlatively speaking, “Moonlight” is one of the best films for 2016. It will
be in my Top 10 and has a good chance to be Nominated For an Academy Award as Best
Picture.
4 Stars
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