MOONLIGHT

Recently, controversy has permeated Hollywood. Whether actors are publicly commenting on political and social issues, or top-echelon award shows are embarrassing themselves with botcheries in front of millions of viewers, there is always cause for debate and discussion in the entertainment world. Barry Jenkins' 2016 critically commended film, "Moonlight", artfully touches on topics which are widely discussed not only in entertainment, but in society as a whole. Quietly received upon its initial commercial release, it has recently struck chords with critics and moviegoers alike, and for good reason.

Admittedly, I tend to disfavor films which I find to be too desperately preachy. Many movies attempt to address deep subject matter, but fail in doing so and lack in the required entertainment qualities. Often times, Hollywood is too out of touch with the life of the average person to truly grasp serious social issues. Acting almost as a case study of one young man's life, "Moonlight" actually achieves the emotional reality which filmmakers so often strive for. It chronicles the life of Chiron, the young, black son of a drug-addicted single mother, as he attempts to survive in a poverty-stricken area of Miami. As the character grows, the audience sees his maturation through three vital phases in his life. His greatest personal struggles come from his negligent mother, classmates who harass him and question his virility, and most of all, his internal questions about his sexual orientation. The division of Chiron's life into three separate chapters allows viewers to clearly see the development and changes in the character's life and those around him. With each phase, the audience must quickly adapt to the new version of the character that they are being presented with. Over time, Chiron's attitude regarding the overarching theme of his sexuality develops and changes.

"Moonlight" was a remarkably courageous undertaking for young director Barry Jenkins. Dealing with a delicate subject, such as homosexuality, is a challenge for any director, and especially for a 37 year-old relative newcomer. Additionally, the cast is made up of mostly unknown actors, including the three employed to play the role of Chiron. Had any of these inexperienced faces been unfit for the role, "Moonlight" would have suffered. However, Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes each excel in their turns as the protagonist. The more recognizable names in the cast, Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris, fill the roles of Juan, a good-natured drug dealer who acts as a father figure to young Chiron, and Paula, the boy's mother. Ali and Harris turn in two of the best supporting performances of 2016.

The picture has rightfully been awarded for its screenplay, which was adapted from a play and written by Jenkins himself. Poetic dialogue drives "Moonlight"'s best scenes, seen in conversations between Juan and the young Chiron, and the exchanges at the end of the film which display the largely unspoken complications of the relationship between Chiron and his old friend Kevin. Chiron is written and acted in a way that establishes him as a greatly troubled character, before it is fully revealed what pains him the most.

"Moonlight" brings raw, honest, and artistic qualities unseen in the majority of coming-of-age and self acceptance stories. As viewers, no matter our personal beliefs and ideologies, we feel for the agony of the main character. Chiron's struggle for self-acceptance is one which is likely familiar to many children and young adults, and the creative passion clearly behind the production of this film allows for a truly beautiful, empathetic memoir of his life. As the debate rages on over which film was the past year's best, "Moonlight" deservedly tops the lists of many movie fans.

RATING: 8.5/10