Moonlight Review

   

   
     Today, there  aren't many movies that do something that very few if any films have done before.  After the 100 years of films, many storylines, plots, and themes are absolutely exhausted.  Why do you think that we are feeling such fatigue of superhero films currently.  However, today, I am here to review a film that actually breaks many barriers, and that film is Moonlight.  An independent release, Moonlight may not get much attention by audiences.  However, critics have lauded it as one of the best movies of the year.  Curious as to why it was so heralded, I went to check it out.  Upon completion of the film, I wasn't sure how I felt about it.  After spending many pensive hours considering the film, I realized that it not only did it meet my expectations, but it exceeded it.  

     Moonlight follows the tale of a young, black man by the name of Chiron.  He grows up in the inner cities of Miami.  Chiron is pretty independent as a young man, taking care of himself while his mother works.  He finds an unlikely role model in local  drug dealer, Juan.  Juan gives him some sense of independence, and in a way, takes care of him.  Juan tells him on a beach in Miami,

"At some point you've got to decide for yourself who you gonna be. And let nobody make that decision."

The film continues to follow Chiron as he grows up, evolves, and shows how he struggles with multiple adversities.  For the sake of spoilers, I refuse to give away how the plot unfolds, any further, but  this movie deals with several difficult topics. 

     One topic the movie writes so smartly is addiction.  Naomi Harris, who is best known for her work in the Pirates of the Caribbean and James Bond movies plays Chiron's drug addicted mother.  The character of the mother is based on the mothers' of director Barry Jenkins, and playwright Tarell McCraney, who's unpublished play was the basis of the screenplay.  Addiction is prominent in Chiron's life, even as begins to make his own choices. 

     In the world of men, fragility is not something often depicted.  Traditionally, men in movies are shown as tough, strong, and unbreakable.  This is especially the case of black men that appear in movies.  Moonlight breaks this trend, buy showing, a pensive, weak boy in Chiron, who is desperately seeking guidance and love.   He seeks this through various outlets, including some homosexual ones, as he continues to grow up.  The film is an important step of African American cinema, as I can't really think of another movies that depicts not only a gentle black man who could possibly be gay, but the film not once mentions the topic of race.  To many, this could be perceived as ignorant of African American problems, but to me, it speaks volumes.  African American women struggle with so much more than simply racism.  It seems that Hollywood forgets this when making movies depicting everyday struggles of African Americans.  Yet here is Moonlight, a wonderful masterpiece that beautifully depicts  a young man's struggles.  And yes, he happens to be black.  Moonlight is not only an achievement of film, but an achievement of film history. 

Grade: (10/10)