There are certain films that just stick with you emotionally, and if you’re like me, films that stick with you emotionally because of how they’re made. To me, Moonlight is that movie. The story of a young gay black man growing up in the hood from his toddler years to adulthood is so mesmerizing in how it’s made and, honestly, I think it’s extremely important to see because of what’s been going on recently. I never knew who director Barry Jenkins was prior to seeing this so I looked him up and saw that he’s only done a few lesser known movies that I haven’t even heard of so to say that this is my introduction to Barry Jenkins is such an honor because I am in love with his style of filmmaking. He uses hand-held cam throughout this entire movie as well as only a little bit of shaky cam and he uses it beautifully. I was honestly astonished about how good the cinematography was. There’s a shot in this movie where they’re swimming and it literally looks like you’re swimming with them. Barry Jenkins doesn’t want us to see this boy grow up, he wants us to experience it. Experience it by making us feel like we are beside him as he grows up and it affects us whenever he gets bullied or even when he first finds out he’s gay.
The actors who play Chiron (the boy growing up) through the years young, teen, and adult, are absolutely fantastic. They’re never show off-y about their performances but they make us feel so much for them because this boy throughout the film has A LOT to go through in life and you know what? We’re in for the ride whether we like it or not.
The musical score, for a movie about a gay black man growing up in the hood is actually very surprising. It’s classical violin music. You would think that it would be hip hop or rap or music that represents the hood, but this movie isn’t like that. The classical music is actually a fantastic touch because it adds even more to the emotion to the film. It fuels the love and melancholy of the film and it fits every scene it’s used in.
Overall, Moonlight is the best movie I have seen so far this year. We’re not done however but I don’t know what will top this. This is a very important movie to come out right now. It’s not about racism, hell, there actually isn’t racism in this movie but it’s about life. It’s about grief and depression and trying to find your own identity. In terms of filmmaking, this film is absolute masterpiece that I think everyone needs to see. I love it so much and I think if more people saw this movie, more people would just start to understand. That’s the best way to describe it.
Trailer:
