I was surprised this film won the Oscar for Best Picture, not because it didn't deserve it. It most definitely did, but because if the Academy had wanted to honor a film starring African-Americans about the black experience, they would surely have voted for "Hidden Figures" which was a very typical Oscar bait movie. That "Moonlight", a smaller picture, won gives me hope for the Academy.
Roger Ebert once said that if you want to make a bigger point in a movie, go small. Make the experience about one smaller thing. Do not try to make a big statement. Make it small and personal and trust the audience to get it. "Brokeback Mountain" did just that a few years ago. It concentrated on one relationship and what happened in it. It worked beautifully. "Brokeback Mountain" should have won Best Picture instead of the atrocious "Crash," but homophobia exists in Hollywood just as it does everywhere else. Perhaps "Moonlight" overcame that bias because of the fact that the lead character being gay was not as central to the plot.
"Moonlight" is truly a beautifully made film in every way. The cast members are phenomenal. The actors playing Chiron, especially the first two are wonderful. Ali was very deserving of his Oscar. Even though, he only appears in the first third of the movie, you feel his presence throughout. Harris is ferocious as Chiron's drug-addicted mother.
The cinematography is perfection. It always amuses me when the Oscar for cinematography goes to a film set in the French countryside or in Rome. Filming beautiful scenery is not very difficult, but filming unattractive scenery and making it seem beautiful is more impressive.
I really thought that if the Academy was going to split the big two awards, they would have given Barry Jenkins Best Director and La La Land Best Picture, but I am very happy it went the way it did.
The final scene is moving, even suspenseful, as the two adult actors say so much without saying anything at all. The final shot of little Chiron back on the beach is magical. A perfect ending to a beautiful film.
Roger Ebert once said that if you want to make a bigger point in a movie, go small. Make the experience about one smaller thing. Do not try to make a big statement. Make it small and personal and trust the audience to get it. "Brokeback Mountain" did just that a few years ago. It concentrated on one relationship and what happened in it. It worked beautifully. "Brokeback Mountain" should have won Best Picture instead of the atrocious "Crash," but homophobia exists in Hollywood just as it does everywhere else. Perhaps "Moonlight" overcame that bias because of the fact that the lead character being gay was not as central to the plot.
"Moonlight" is truly a beautifully made film in every way. The cast members are phenomenal. The actors playing Chiron, especially the first two are wonderful. Ali was very deserving of his Oscar. Even though, he only appears in the first third of the movie, you feel his presence throughout. Harris is ferocious as Chiron's drug-addicted mother.
The cinematography is perfection. It always amuses me when the Oscar for cinematography goes to a film set in the French countryside or in Rome. Filming beautiful scenery is not very difficult, but filming unattractive scenery and making it seem beautiful is more impressive.
I really thought that if the Academy was going to split the big two awards, they would have given Barry Jenkins Best Director and La La Land Best Picture, but I am very happy it went the way it did.
The final scene is moving, even suspenseful, as the two adult actors say so much without saying anything at all. The final shot of little Chiron back on the beach is magical. A perfect ending to a beautiful film.
