Director Barry Jenkins
Genre Drama
Cast Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex R. Hibbert, Trevante Rhodes
Rating R
Release Date October 21st, 2016
“A timeless story of human connection and self-discovery, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.”
Moonlight is a powerful coming-of-age film directed and co-written by Barry Jenkins. Although Jenkins experience lies with short films for the most part, he does have experience with a somewhat similar subject matter. His other full-length film released in 2008 entitled Medicine for Melancholy, which he wrote and directed. Categorized as a romantic drama taking place over a 24-hour period, it received wide acclaim from critics as a limited release. Moonlight stars Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex R. Hibbert, and Trevante Rhodes.
Moonlight is much more than a movie, it is a powerful exercise in emotion that will continue to resonate well after the credits roll. This is the rare film that somehow manages to bring a sensitive issue front and center without feeling exploitative in any way. That is no easy feat especially in this day-and-age, trust me. You can't even cast a film without backlash for "whitewashing", or "yellowashing,” or even "bluewashing" (an all Blue Man Group cast perhaps?). Who knows what they will come up with next? All kidding aside, we live in a sensitive time and for that reason Moonlight absolutely needs to be experienced by each and every person in society. The seamless transition from a young boy to a teenager, and on to a grown man is a pleasure to experience, as heartbreaking as it may be at times. Our journey through life takes us to many different places, and may force us to face various inner demons, whether we are prepared for them or not. Moonlight proves that no matter what, staying true to oneself is the first step in becoming who you were meant to be from the very beginning.
In what is shaping out to be an exciting award season for groundbreaking indie films, Moonlight finds itself leading the pack according to early pre-award season buzz. For a film to even be considered for many of the prestigious awards handed out when the time comes, acting is undoubtedly one of the primary determining factors. Moonlight may not include the A-list cast that everyone will immediately recognize, but I promise you the talent level is unmatched. Lead by veteran actor Mahershala Ali, the cast is extremely well rounded. Ali should be a familiar face for most of you, although he is far from a household name. He had a supporting role in The Place Beyond the Pines, and most recently he played a big part in The Free State of Jones. He also starred as the nemesis to Luke Cage in Marvel's exclusive Netflix series. Ali is dynamic in this role, as he totally invests himself in a rather complex character with a tough exterior, that over time proves to have a deeply hidden sensitive side yearning for an escape. The protagonist (or main character) starts as a young boy, develops into a teenager in high school, and eventually becomes a grown man, so clearly he has to be played by 3 separate actors. What I found interesting is the fact that each "version" of him has a different title due to the various nicknames he is given as he grows up. As a boy he is known as "Little" and is played by Alex R. Hibbert. As a teenager he is played by Ashton Sanders and is known as "Chiron,” and as an adult he is played by Trevante Rhodes and is known as "Black.” All 3 actors deliver extremely impactful performances and ensure the films message is delivered the way it was meant to be.
Moonlight is an incredible film with a powerful and long-lasting message. Director Barry Jenkins proves that he has a knack for films like this and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. Hopefully he takes on his next project without an 8-year gap. Moonlight is deeply engaging but for some this can be construed as slow, so a certain level of patience is required. If you give Moonlight a chance, it will absolutely have an impact on you, I promise you that. If you are someone who likes to see the films guaranteed to be prevalent come award season, Moonlight should be at the top of your list. Highly recommended.
