Review of Moonlight (2016) by Moviewithmeg — 07 Mar 2017
When people ask me, “What was your favorite movie of the year?” I don’t say Moonlight. When people ask me “What was the best film of the year?” I say Moonlight. This is a dark, gritty story that felt like it wasn’t being told because anyone decided to tell it, but more like fate had been leading Barry Jenkins and company towards this their whole lives.
The obvious comparison would be Boyhood, and it feels that grand in scope, but more timely. If you had told me that they filmed all of the iterations of the main character, Chiron, over a twenty year span with the same actor, I would have believed you.
However, if there is one thing I will remember from Moonlight down the line (because it is a little heavy for a regular spot in the rotation), it will be Mahershala Ali. I loved Dev Patel’s performance in Lion, and in many ways it was more athletic, but I would have turned off the Academy Awards after the first card had Ali not won.
The scene at the dinner table could have been his only scene in the movie, and he would have earned that Oscar. That is all. 9.
This review of Moonlight (2016) was written by Moviewithmeg on 07 Mar 2017.
Moonlight has generally received very positive reviews.
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