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Director: Barry Jenkins

Writers: Barry Jenkins, Tarell McCraney

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Main Cast:

• Mahershala Ali as Juan
• Shariff Earp as Terrence
• Duan Sanderson as Azu
• Janelle Monàe as Teresa
• Naomie Harris as Paula

Review: by Tuck

When is the last time you felt lost? When was the last time you allowed the world to see you for who you chose to be instead of who you truly are? This form of self-analysis is continuously provoked throughout the film Moonlight. Trailers led me to believe the movie would fully submerge me into the world of an African-American homosexual male, with a strong focus on the actions and reactions of male to male intimacies. Completely inaccurate. We are taken on a journey of Chiron’s curious life from childhood through adolescence to adulthood – all while answering questions of self and character. It can take a lifetime to build your own identity. It can take one person to make you realize that being yourself is all that was required.

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What I Liked:

The film is broken up into three chapters that identify how Chiron is viewed and perceived: Little, Chiron and Black. There is constant reminder to the viewer that you have the option of being who you truly are or being who you want to be.

Character choices worked well together, most staying true to whom they are. This includes the evolution of each character along with each chapter. The director guides you hastily through each chapter but spends pivotal screen time on the portions of the film that were integral to why Little became Chiron, and Chiron made himself into Black. Every character remained true to their purpose in Moonlight, no matter the longevity of their time on screen.

The main characters are identified through the changes in their moral compass. Unlike most films, the secondary characters also have believable transitions. There is an intense focus on the environment being relatable, not necessarily the situation of Chiron. The majority of people mature and remain within the same environment, at least until high school. Chiron does the same.

The most enjoyable portion is possibly the most unbelievable. The director ensured that the viewer is made aware that Black is a personality that is rebranded and built from the ground up. It is exhibited through the character selection – while never forgetting to show remnants of who he was in the prior two chapters. The music selection and drug usage strongly portray the time period within the film. Listen and be aware of the surroundings to understand the intricate details of the time period, and why Chiron understanding himself is so difficult in his early years.

What I Didn’t Like:

You may find yourself asking “What are they referring to?” or “What happened?” in order to ensure yourself that you are following along accordingly. Moments that should have been covered, or detailed in a more obvious manner, are not. This is evident especially when characters are being removed from Chiron’s life and when his settings drastically change. The events are instead mentioned in passing or referred to during quick conversations.

The lack of a provided timeframe is also a dislike. The music and drug usage is a hint, but for viewers who have never been exposed to either in the manner they are being utilized and portrayed, they will be left guessing. There is neither date or location provided at any point during the movie, only the mentions of city’s that would only be familiar to people who have been exposed to those areas. The gold fronts, accents, music and surroundings do hint that it is the Southern part of the United States, starting out in the mid to late 80’s.

Action shots were choppy and erratic. Time gaps were so far apart that it allows an unwavering amount of speculation for the viewer. This can hammer home the constant evolution of life, regardless of our understanding of what is occurring. This approach may not work for the masses.

Images Courtesy of IMDB