Moonlight Review

As the Oscars approach, filmmakers are releasing high-caliber movies left and right for award consideration. “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins, is a riveting tale about a homosexual African-American boy growing up in the rough side of Miami, is one of such films. The picture is a series of three vignettes showing what it's like to grow up in a area where everything you truly are is rejected. However the movie unfolded to be much more than that. It was actually a story about the coping of true appearance, and what it means to be truly misunderstood.   An independent hit, Moonlight boomed with success in its first few weeks. The film itself cost 5 million to make, and they so far have made twice that in the box office. Aside from the film’s overwhelming box office success, it has received renowned and almost incomparable Oscar buzz leading up to the awards.Moonlight’s unique cinematography and phenomenal acting set it apart from other films this Oscar season. Each shot in the film was made from far away, giving a larger view of the setting and allowing for more contextual development. There are overarching themes present throughout the movie, especially those relating to cycles: The film begins with Mahershala Ali’s character selling drugs on a street corner, and in the final act of the movie, it shows the main character (Chiron) doing the exact same thing. This element of repetition not only added to the appearance-versus-reality theme of the movie, but is also a prime example of subtle storytelling.This film featured many up-and-coming new actors in their on-screen debut. Aside from Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris, the majority of the cast were essentially nobodies, and this film gave them a chance to shine. The acting was executed perfectly, and the characters were both lovable and intensely (sometimes even overwhelmingly) emotional and realistic.The well-delegated protagonist, Chiron, was played by three actors throughout the movie: Alex Hibbert, Aton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes. Through the portrayal of his life, the audience is able to develop empathy for him. It was almost as if you personally knew this kid as a childhood friend, and you were forced to watch helplessly as he goes through the struggles of being gay in a society that doesn’t accept him. In my opinion, the most impressive performance in the movie was Naomie Harris’s portrayal of Chiron’s mother, Paula. She starts off as a struggling nurse’s aid trying to make an honest living in a bad situation, but tips into a downward spiral. In the second act of the movie, she becomes addicted to crack, doing anything she could for cash. We eventually find her in a rehab center, progressively getting rid of her crippling addiction. Once again, the element of cycles is present as a well-executed trope. In the end, the audience witnesses an elderly Paula: a woman filled with sorrow and regret.  All in all, this masterpiece has been one of the most successful independent films of all time, and for a good reason. I believe it deserves any and all Oscars it will win, as well as the praise it will continue to receive.