Oscar Notes: MOONLIGHT

I am starting a new series where I take some notes on the potential Oscar heavy hitters. This week I'm looking at Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins. The film stars Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, Alex Hibbert, Andre Holland, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monae, and Naomi Harris. The film is scripted by Jenkins, from the unproduced play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McRaney. The film is about a young man (played by Rhodes, Sanders, and Hibbert) at different stages in his life as he comes to terms with his sexuality and masculinity culture in the black community.

The buzz: Moonlight opened to widespread critical acclaim. It earned rave reviews during festival season ever since its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September. The film has received several nominations at the Gotham Awards, including a win for a Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Performance. Also, the movie is doing well at the box office in limited release. However,when the movie releases wide this weekend, we'll see if it clicks with mainstream audiences. Moonlight is expected to make a big splash at the Spirit Awards as well as the Academy Awards.

But can it go the distance?

Potential nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Harris), Best Supporting Actor (Ali). The cinematography, original score, and editing might also get nominations. There is some awkwardness with the Best Actor category. Three actors play the main character in different stages of his life, so neither of them is the lead but they are also all the lead. Remember Dev Patel lost a nomination for Slumdog Millionaire since he shared his role with another actor. Because of this Best Actor confusion, Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali look like the best bets for acting Oscar nominations, especially since they are both having breakout years.

Any problems? While the Academy is desperate to be more inclusive and, perhaps most importantly, to be seen being more inclusive, it is still mostly made up of old white men who like stories about white men doing things. The Academy can handle stories about black people--especially in servitude--and stories about gay people--especially if they end in death. But Moonlight is both a black movie and a gay movie and not about slaves, maids, or tragic deaths. Like last year's Carol it has an ambiguous--but somewhat optimistic--ending. Also, there are virtually no white people with speaking roles.

My take: Moonlight is the most important movie of the year, perhaps the decade. It's exactly the kind of movie we say we want when we talk about inclusive storytelling. With or without Oscar statues, it will become a shining achievement. The filmmaking is poetic, the acting is fully-lived, and the emotional impact is transcendent. I doubt Moonlight will win Best Picture or any of its nominations. But for a movie like this, the nominations are their own rewards.

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