Moonlight is a stripped-down, emotionally raw movie about the lamentable destiny of so many young African-American men today. It’s a deeply personal film about male identity in the sun-drenched hell of the Dade County housing projects, circa the 1980s that tells the story of a sensitive boy, then a confused teenager, and finally a hardened young man, who struggles to fit within the world he inhabits. Director/screenwriter Jenkins divides his focal character’s life into three chapters, each corresponding to the name or nickname (Little, Chiron, Black) defining him at a specific age. While all of the performances in this movie are superb, Naomie Harris’ turn as Chiron's mother in the third act is hands-down award-worthy. But the third act’s final scene between the grown-up Chiron and former crush Kevin (Holland) is the film’s beautiful centerpiece. It’s a heartbreaking moment, and Jenkins stages the entire scene with a palpable sense of unrequited romance. Truly, madly, deeply: There’s magic in this Moonlight.
Opened 11/04/16