Review of Moonlight (2016) by William W — 05 Apr 2017

Before I start my review, I have to get this off of my chest...

Now that I've seen this movie, I can officially say without absolute certainty, that I think that La La Land deserved the Academy Award for best picture. Why'd they have to pull a Steve Harvey and break my heart like that?! Ahem. Moving on.

This wasn't a bad film and I actually enjoyed it. But I found it hard to appreciate what the film was trying to say because I personally found it difficult to like Chiron at many points of the film. I understand that his mother was horrible and he was bullied while growing up while living in a harsh environment where being an alpha male is the norm within the suburbs and not to mention the fact that being gay is unacceptable too for most blacks. I get it. But you know something, he had plenty of chances to make something out of his life and he just doesn't.

And despite his hardships, it's not like he didn't have support. Teresa was a far better mother than a lot of people have and Juan despite being a drug dealer. treated him really well too. Speaking of Juan... what the hell happened to him? Did he die? Did he break up with his girlfriend after Chiron found out that he was a drug dealer? Why does the movie somehow forget to mention what happened to the character with the most screen time in the first portion of the film? You'd think they'd at least show a funeral or something. And it's really disappointing because he really won me over with his fantastic response to Chiron's innocent question.

Chiron: "What is a faggot?".

Juan: "It's something people say to make gay people feel bad.".

A better answer could not have been said. And then poof! Juan is gone for the rest of the film. Very bizarre that they elected to get rid of their big name actor Mahershala Ali so soon. (He was fantastic in the Marvel Netflix TV Show Luke Cage and I loved him in the 4400 too) But regardless of Juan's mysterious disappearance, he still briefly had a father figure and also had a mother figure he could fall back on as well.

Now what happened in school was bull shit and I do sympathize for him for that. Terrel was a total ass hole. How he manipulated Kevin was so messed up and I can totally understand the psychological damage Chiron got because it came after their sexual encounter. (Speaking of, not to take away from the seriousness of the moment, as a straight male, I think I finally understand what it's like for straight women to watch to Lesbians make love. Very awkward indeed.) But even so, Chiron was a dumbass. In what world does it make sense to go into school the next day and wack a dude that is at least 50 pounds heavier than you with a chair in the back of the head. Even if you don't get into trouble, (hahaha... dumbass) did he really think he could win that fight? The Guidance Counselor was trying to help him out and he IGNORED IT. HE IGNORED IT. Why? Bruh, I'm trying hard to sympathize for you, but when you have the answers to the test being put right in front of you and you deliberately choose to ignore them, I'm sorry but I lose all sympathy and laugh at the consequences of the mistake you just made.

With all of that being said, that third act was phenomenal! If I was rating this movie based off of that alone, it would be a 5/5. We see what has become of Chiron and it is truly depressing. He never gets over his past and therefore never truly embraces himself for who he is. And then we see Kevin. Chiron's childhood friend who was a troublemaker but worked on his own issues and made something out of his own life. We see an awkward exchange between old friends and then a really emotional moment when Chiron finally admits what we knew all along before the ending credits roll up. Really well set-up and it gives the audience hope that Chiron might finally get to live his life without fear of judgment from other people.

Overall, I loved the message of the film and how it was never specifically preached at you but you could still easily figure it out on your own. What I didn't like was how long it took the film to build up and explain itself. Chiron was a good kid and he took a path that was illogical. Yet at the same time, he was rude to Teresa for most of the movie. And while I loved the heartfelt moment he had with his mother, it was terrible that he never granted Teresa that same satisfaction since she actually deserved it. And maybe I missed it, but I don't believe he thanked Teresa once throughout the entire film. After all she and Juan did for him, the least he could do was show her a little appreciation. And again, NO EXPLANATION FOR JUAN'S DISAPPEARANCE?! Come on man!