MOONLIGHT REVIEW: If you’ve kept tabs on the Oscars this year, you’ve heard about this underdog that’s gearing up to duel with the musical Goliath, La La Land next week. The good news is, it has enough in its arsenal to win.
The movie unfolds in three phases. We meet Little (Alex Hibbert), who is being bullied by some boys. He runs into Juan (Mahershala Ali), who shows him the kind of kindness he’s never seen before. Little grows up into Chiron (Ashton Sanders) - his actual name - who is still struggling with a different sexual identity than most other boys his age. But those boys have bigger weapons than mean words now. Chiron gets bullied, beaten black and blue, and is left to his own devices. Chiron grows up into ‘Black’ (Trevante Rhodes), but age doesn’t solve his problems. He’s successful, rich, built and confident, but there’s still a big part of ‘Little’ in him.
Moonlight is essential viewing in a time and age where empathy towards minorities is fast deteriorating; where people are quick to judge anyone who isn’t exactly like them. It is a brutally honest portrayal of inferiority and how it infests young minds; shapes or spoils adulthoods.
All three actors portraying Chiron strike a chord and are flawlessly in tune with each other. Special props to the teen-phase Chiron, Ashton Sanders. At each stage in his life, Chiron meets his friend Kevin who becomes his guide, philosopher and soulmate-in-waiting. Andre Holland is perfectly cast as the adult Kevin who finally grounds Chiron.
Owing to its authentic indie roots, it might feel a bit slow and moody at times; there aren’t any shocking revelations around the corner. But stick with Moonlight for some perspective. You’ll absorb something good and emerge more reflective about things you’ve never thought of before.
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