Moonlight

Parental Rating: R

Contains: Language    Violence    Sex    Drug Use    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens November 4, 2016

Runs 110 minutes

Told in three parts, this is the story of a black boy growing up surrounded by poverty in Miami and coming to terms with his sexuality in a hostile environment. "Little" (Alex Hibbert) lives with his Mother Paula (Naomie Harris) and just tries to get by under the radar. When a group of boys chase him, he hides in an adandoned building where he is discovered by Juan (Mahershala Ali), a local drug dealer. Soon, Juan and his girlfriend Teresa (Janelle Monáe) take Little under their wing. Juan becomes the father figure he never had. As he becomes a teenager, now going by Chiron (Ashton Sanders), he is still a target of the local bullies. Only now, they are even more aggressive and angry at him. And to make matters worse, his Mother has slipped further into major drug addiction. He takes matters into his own hands and changes the course of his life. As an adult, "Black" (Trevante Rhodes) has come full circle and is now a drug dealer himself. But, the drug dealer personna does not fit him like a glove. When an old friend re-enters his life, it might be the perfect opportunity to re-think where his life is headed.

As awards season approaches, Moonlight has been garnering lots of praise. I think it is well-deserved. The film is gritty and sensitive. The acting is terrific all the way around. Even the younger kids do a great job. I thought they handled the subject matter in a very thoughtful way. It depicts the difficulty a young black gay man faces within his community. It also reflects how people are the result of their upbringing and influences. This was such a good movie. While there is bad language, a little violence and drug use, I thought it was all very subtle. The main subject was Chiron. And, watching him grow up was very eye-opening. Highly recommend this film.

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