Moonlight

[TotallyEffed]

Has anyone seen this yet? It is truly one of the most amazing films I've ever seen. Do not miss this powerful piece of cinema. I was absolutely blown away by the writing, direction, the performances and the cinematography. This film will stay with me a long time. I hope the Oscars acknowledge this and I would love to see Criterion release it. It is truly important.

[HorseTears]

Been looking forward to seeing it for months.  The reviews have been universally rapturous.  What was the last film that had a 99 on Metacritic? 

[Someone in a Tree2]

A really strong movie. I'm glad I went in knowing nothing about the story; what a refreshing experience having no clue who were the key characters and who weren't, what year the movie starts out in and what year it will end in. It's the best kind of work that creates characters who look nothing like me but where everything they go through is immediately relatable. That scene on the beach is one many many of us on BWW have lived. A very small movie that seems absolutely enormous when it's over.

[wonderfulwizard11]

I just saw it this evening and it really is gorgeous. It's such a still and small movie, but the way it builds on these quiet moments as the movie progresses really pack an emotional wallop in the last third of the movie. Absolutely terrific performances all around too. 

[TotallyEffed]

The man who played the drug dealer in the first act gave an Oscar worthy performance.

[ErikJ972]

Saw it this weekend and what a fantastic film! By far my favorite of the year. Fantastic performances across the board. Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. That final scene! I think it's only playing in NY and LA right now. Definitely worth seeking out.

[Someone in a Tree2]

^ Apparently it's also playing in Miami and in Atlanta (where I saw it last Saturday).

[hork]

I saw this yesterday and was very disappointed. It all seemed very trite and uninspired and false. There were moments in the first act where it seemed to be trying to ape Terrence Malick. I think the only scene that felt genuine to me was the one in the diner near the end.

[ErikJ972]

Opens wide today. Do yourself a favor and see it.

[Jordan Catalano]

I saw it this morning and have been digesting it for a few hours now. This is a perfect film. From the script, to the performances, to the music, to the cinematography and direction - there are just simply no flaws. I can't imagine seeing a better film this year and there are a lot more left to open. But this is going to be (rightfully) remembered and rewarded come award season. 

[Fantod]

Saw it today. Simply gorgeous.

[Jordan Catalano]

For anyone interested, here's a great panel discussion. 

 

https://youtu.be/l2Bm4fpfqJ8

[henrikegerman]

hork said: "I saw this yesterday and was very disappointed. It all seemed very trite and uninspired and false. There were moments in the first act where it seemed to be trying to ape Terrence Malick.:

If only Terrrence Malick were half as talented as Barry Jenkins.

 

"

 

[hork]

henrikegerman said: "hork said: "I saw this yesterday and was very disappointed. It all seemed very trite and uninspired and false. There were moments in the first act where it seemed to be trying to ape Terrence Malick.:

If only Terrrence Malick were half as talented as Barry Jenkins.
 

Admittedly, Malick's recent films have been a bit painful, but there is no way this guy who made one mediocre film is more talented than the man who made Days of Heaven, Badlands, or The Thin Red Line. Even his failures are more visually and aurally interesting than anything in Moonlight.


 

"

 

 

"

 

[Jordan Catalano]

...in your opinion. 

[hork]

Jordan Catalano said: "...in your opinion. 

Oh, no, it's fact. And also science. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Cool. Well maybe you can go find a new thread to play in now. 

[henrikegerman]

Hork, I absolutely own that it is my own opinion and that many people whose opinions I respect very much greatly admire Malick.  I also agree with you that my admittedly snarky comment was aimed mostly at Malick's recent movies which we agree are painful, although I find them more than merely a bit so.   Where we mostly disagree, however, is that Moonlight is mediocre.

[hork]

Jordan Catalano said: "Cool. Well maybe you can go find a new thread to play in now. 

This one's fine for me, thanks. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

I still cannot get over that *gorgeous* shot where we first see Kevin's face full-on in the diner. Took my breath away in the theater. 

[henrikegerman]

^That shot was brilliant.

[Theater_Nerd]

I'm going to see the film this weekend. I've heard nothing but great things about it. I am really looking forward to seeing this. 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

*Minor/vague spoilers*

I think this will go down as one of the great American films of our generation. It's a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. The use of silence in the film is particularly breathtaking, and in turn, it makes those moments that feature music stand out as sublime. The three actors who play Chiron give such lived in performances. Naomie Harris gives such a layered portrayal of a mother dealing with (and destroyed by) addiction. And Mahershala Ali as Juan will likely be my favorite performance by a supporting actor this year; it's hard to bring out such a delicate sweetness out of that role without ever losing sight of the character's edge, but Ali does it beautifully. And not enough good things can be said about Andre Holland's performance as Kevin in that very long, play-like diner scene. The film is deliberate and precise, beautifully shot and yet extremely realistic.

And no, at no point is Jenkins trying to mimic Terrence Malick. Malick wishes he could capture emotion, pathos, and sadness as delicately and clearly as Jenkins does in this film. I saw him Saturday and can't stop thinking about it. I can't remember the last time I was so floored by a film.

[Roscoe]

Bumping the thread to get this movie out there -- I saw MOONLIGHT and was very glad to have done so.  A fine film that resists easy answers and trite message-mongering, going instead for a basic depiction of raw yet understated humanity that I found deeply moving.  And it is one of the best-acted films of recent years.

Quibbles -- sure, a couple here and there.  As the kids say, whatevs.  And I'm not seeing any Malick influence, maybe a little of the early Malick, the good Malick, the harder-edged human Malick of BADLANDS rather than the dribbling camera-waving psycho of TREE OF LIFE.

 

[Theater_Nerd]

I saw this film as well. What a cathartic experience. I echo the positive sentiments of those who found this film revelatory. 

It shook me to my core. I am glad I did not go alone. I found myself in tears several times during the film.

As me and my friends left the theater you could hear a pin drop. We were all trying to process everything we had just seen. 

This was followed by a lengthy discussion about the film over a late dinner. 

I hope it receives all the recognition it rightfully deserves.

Masterpiece. 

[hork]

I find myself in this weird position where everyone is sobbing over Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea, and I'm like "eh, whatever" to both of them. And the movie this year that did wreck me, Krisha, came and went with nobody really noticing. I'm not sure what to make of this.