Review of Moonlight (2016) by Mark M — 04 Mar 2017

While I'm grateful La La Land (2016) did not win the Oscar Best Picture, Moonlight (2016) did not deserve the award either. If, like me, you thought the pace of Silence (2016) was slow, then you'll find Moonlight to be glacial by comparison.

While there's nothing wrong with the performances in Moonlight, the best ones (Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali and the grossly underestimated and stunningly beautiful Janelle Monáe) are too brief and transitory.

Naomie Harris is clearly too much of a 'gym rat' to make a convincing crack whore. Overall, the story would have benefited from a little exposition where there's hardly any now. For me, Hidden Figures or Hell or High Water were the best pictures of the year and I'm now convinced more than ever that Janelle Monáe should have been nominated for something at the Oscars.

Mark's Grade: C+.