The way they looked at each other for the first time in the restaurant...made me cry.

I like the way you compared this film to past films with a gay theme and I never looked at it like that and I totally agree with you.Being a 63 y.o. gay white man, I've seen many establishment, gay themed flicks such as Philadelphia, The Normal Heart, etc. but they never show " up in your face " intimacy between men like this film did. It didn't need to be graphic. There was enough in the beach scene for people to know what happened. But to show Chiron's face and eyes in the car ride home after being intimate with his friend for the first time has never been so accurate in any other film of this type. Those faces and eyes will stay with me for the rest of my life. I was broke down and tore up 3 times while watching this movie. It was the best Christmas present I've ever received.

I ugly cried during this movie because I could identify with so much of the content. This movie is really special.

Best movie I've seen in my life! With so many parallels to my own life

Such a beautiful movie honestly, I was super overcome by emotion at the theatre

Moonlight needs to win Best Picture of 2016. Reason? It's the best picture of 2016.

MOONLIGHT WAS EPIC. PERIOD.

You are not wrong. I too think it is an absolutely gorgeous film. It is actually is better the second time because I've watched it twice and will likely see it several more times. I think one of the extraordinary beauties of this film is the back story, the back narrative that it very intelligently let's you fill in. You don't have to know everything that occurred to Chirone's mother to know she's had a hard life based on how she's treated her son; you don't have to know what occurred to Juan to know; you don't have to know it all or see it all to imagine all the things that have occurred with these characters. You're not wrong at all good sir...

Best movie I saw all year. I agree with you saying it's a must-see for young gay Black males, but I wonder if it resonates on a personal level with Black males in general (that aren't homophobic) just from what it had to say about expectations and acceptable performances of masculinity. Great review!

Finally someone who can get to the point in letting people know that it's a good movie rather then going on and on with a 16-20 minute video just to say it's a good film. Thank you!

Only on the verge of tears twice? I was bawling for the last 15 mins and felt paralyzed for the next couple of days. Couldn't get it out of my head. I still get choked up just thinking about that ending. SO GOOD!

This film is THE best film of the year. It's one of THE best films in the history of film. It's a phenomenal film. It's an experience one should make sure they experience in their entire lifetime. I don't care about this film being nominated at the Oscar's--THIS FILM HAS TO WIN AT THE OSCAR'S! THIS FILM IS BLACK HISTORY!

ghetto ... I mean cultural diversity ... LMAO!! You tried that. All your points are valid though.

This movie will still be great 100 years from now. People will be able to look at it years from now and get it. Is saw Barry Jenkins' first movie, "Medicine for Melancholy" and even though it received a lot of buzz I always felt it deserved more. I'm happy he, Terell McCraney, and the cast are getting their just due.

I watch this movie everyday! I am a married stay-at-home mom and this movie is a beautiful love story! Bridges of Madison county, The Notebook, none of those movies were nearly as good as MoonLight.

I'm not gay and this was an amazing movie, one of the best I have ever seen. I loved everything about this movie.

I don't consider this a gay movie. It is a movie. It is a movie about drugs, survival, bullying, survival, compassion, friendship, intimacy, repentance, love for family, childhood, growing up, and so on. In other words it is about LIFE! People should stop owning and tagging this a gay movie!

I really liked it until the end. I feel like they played it WAY too safe, especially for this age. I've seen way too many same sex short films from the 90s end like this. I totally get that the most important thing in that moment for Chiron was to finally have permission to feel his emotions fully and experience intimacy. I think that even though Kevin had his own motives, he was mature enough to give Chiron what he needed. But I felt that the audience and those two characters were cheated. We went on this journey with him and wanted to finally see him finally get to own his feelings and come to a place of acceptance. There was just way to much left to explore. It could have had a much more impact on others like him and the community as a whole

You are over the top dead on! This movie was freakin' phenomenal! It spoke truth to my past and some of my present. I did not reallu start crying until the end. That's when it hit home.It was so good I saw it 6 times (twice solo). Had a very touchy discussion with my friends who saw the movie. Some couldn't relate until I told them to look beyond the sexuality part. Then I got the digital download and shared it with fellas in my Men's Support Group. They absolutely loved it. The discussion afterwards got real personal and people really started opening up more. This by far has been they best movie I have seen in years. It will get a special place in my black movie section of my personal DVD/Blu-Ray library. They got the top award at the golden globes, now let's see if they clean up at the Oscars.

Late to the party but I saw Moonlight with my mother a few nights ago and I absolutely loved it I agree with you there's not a lot of representation for black or people of color in the LGBT I haven't like something like this since Noah's Ark from 2006... man what a good show... As a white gay guy I still enjoyed this movie. A lot of people say you cant enjoy this movie unless you're a gay black male but as a gay white male who grew up in a rough neighborhood I absolutely enjoyed it

You are right...and then some. Extraordinary film.

There is a little bit of controversy about the end of this movie. Some feel cheated. I read this article in which the director explains why they didn't kiss at the end. (I still wished they had.) www.vulture.com/2016/10/on-moonlight-and-movie-kisses-between-two-men.html

Growing up in South East D.C. was rough for me. I literally saw my whole life in this movie. This is the first time I've EVER seen my life (as a gay Black man) on television. From being picked on and bullied, chased home, embarrassed in school, issues with your mom, being an only child, being DL, etc.. this movie was awesome. It's one of my favorites. It also taught me about forgiveness. Inability to forgive will destroy you.

finally saw it....One survivor to another... I gotta say it wrecked me totally caught me off guard, took me to places i didnt expect i would relate to but found out i am so much like him resulting in the same kinda person he turned out to be. This film is similiar to "Latter days" (movie) in the way it makes you feel but coming from a different reality. I hope this all comes as high praise cuz you they deserve it. P.S. I dont know how that magic happens but All 3 of the actors playing him were him, i never for a moment thought otherwise.

love and basket ball has nothing on this film imo

I've seen this brilliant masterpiece three times and its more amazing with every viewing. Plan to see it again before Oscar time.

The sexual tension between the characters as adults was crazy!! And hot!!! And you could tell the tension was betrayed the exact same way by the actors who played the teens during the beach scene. But even beyond that the acting was truly amazing and I feel it needed to be, to really get across how true this story is for so many poc. Every relationship that was expressed in this movie provided so much depth and dimension, it really didn't make it hard at all to feel for these characters.

I don't think it was a bad film. I think that it seem unfinished. I would have loved to see the main character stand in the truth of who he is.

Great review! This film truly is one that opened the door for so many it transcends many barriers. As a introverted biracial plus bisexual person- the story to a huge extent mirrored many experiences of my own life, it left me utterly breathless. All the elements that encompassed this film made it resonant bone deep. The moment I had the opportunity to get it on DVD, I bought it and watched it the same day. Barry Jenkins did not cut any corners in addressing struggles at the heart of Black life and those specifically for people having to struggle with their sexual identity and just finding acceptance and just a true semblancy of love which throughout the film Chiron wants. Definitely a film everyone should see and anyone can be impacted by.

if you have trouble sleeping go and watch this movie, I'm sure you'll be snoring in no time!!

The part where little Chiron pours dishwashing soap into the bath tub had a large impact on me. It isn't something I've done, but that scene alone spoke a lot of words.

I just saw the movie and I loved it. Comparing it to Love and Basketball was dead on. I'm 31 and seeing this movie for me reminded me of my childhood and coming into adulthood. Great actors.

you are right. I was touched to my soul by this movie. I think it's the black man's color purple

I found the movie boring. I was waiting on something to happen and it never did.

I think moon light is a movie I can watch again it can relate to many people as a gay male I was in the closet and I had a doped up mom I even saw my dad in cuffs this movie made me feel so vulnerable I cried for 15 minutes after watching it

I didn't care for it. This movie looked good but I didnt care for the story especially the third part. It seemed like a long boondocks skit. It was more propaganda than film to me lol. I just think it could've been done better.

THE MOVIE WAS OK NOT THE BEST OF 2016

I wanted a kiss at the end! 😫

Where can I watch it? Please I need a link to a full movie !

Hi! Thank you for your amazing review. I was just thinking about going to a cinema to see "Moonlight" with my friend, when I came across your video! The description of the movie sounded brilliant, but I wasn't sure until I've seen your video. Thank you so much, we're definitely going to see this movie and I can't wait! :)

I may have to watch it again. What stood out to me was the cinematography , the movie was shot with bright colors. But I feel the main character development was subtle which made it difficult for me to understand who he was just as an individual. For example , Only reason I knew he was gay was because he kissed another boy which kinda came out of no where. If that romantic scene was deleted plus the last 2 mins of the movie as well, no one would know he was gay. I felt there was more imagery on his mom or even the bullying aspect than of him and his friends relationship becoming romantic. So that left me confused on what was awesome about the movie. To me the movie was ok, but it didn't give me a wow effect. Btw a movie is a movie, even if the movie was about a guy and girl, I would be saying the same thing.

The screenplay is amazing too...it's available from the producers' site...so much deep detail and the ending goes beyond the film...agree w your review completely.

As long a gay movie isn't filled with to many plot holes, unrealistic characters and a lot do this, bad acting, cliches, deaths I'll watch it.

I loved this movie especially the beginning and middle. I was disappointed in the ending though. I felt it lacked actual intimacy and that was purposefully down not to turn off straight Black viewers. Even the advertisement was a little cloudy about this being a gay centered movie. I honestly didn't know until I saw people mention it on twitter. I thought it was a Miami version for Boys In The Hood at first. Which the ending actually reminded me of. It felt like all of this just for this small touch. Chirone was a grown virgin who hadn't seen the only boy he ever liked in 10 years. We should of seen something leading up to him actually having sex. Every episode of Shameless the white gay boy is getting it on. I wanted to see a more romantic version of that with Black men. But it felt like Will and Grace. The Black men in the end weren't allowed to be just that. Men who crave sex like anyone else.

made me my cry man Chiron reminds me of my best friend

the film was released yesterday in the UK, I'm still in a dazed moment of how brilliant every scene was. Already booked tickets for a second showing in the week,and trying to go alone to just concentrate without friendly influence. Really I think everyone and their mummy should get a ticket,support and tell others too.

The film is quite good. Somehow remind me to Brokeback Mountain. But in black colors. The goal of the film i see in propper main actor Trevante Rhodes. Because of his looking - strong, athletic and tender. Without Trevante the film coudn't be so succesful. Ofcourse Mahershala Ali is very good choice too. If main actor was a real gay man, the film would be funny indeed.

Just saw the movie. Chiron is an angel.

Very moving film, very real too. it doesn't get anymore real than this. I was on the set before the last scenes were filmed and it's exactly where i would imagine a character like Kevin would live. so even locations are real. the story kind of reminded me of Kaldrick King character from a Canadian show called LA Complex years ago... It's obviously not as hypnotic as Moonlight, but the story is very rich too. It's as if Chiron never went to see Kevin and became a rich rapper, and instead of a bad mother, he had a drug addict father...

One of my favorites of 2016, maybe even my favorite. Easily one of the best gay films ever made. I think as far as production value goes, as you said it's easily one of the best too. I do think that Brokeback Mountain is a very beautifully produced/directed/acted/photographed film too. I'd also add Weekend by Andrew Haigh to the list of best LGBT films (from an artistic standpoint.) There's also The Handmaiden from last year, Blue is the Warmest Color, Stranger By the Lake, Carol, Far From Heaven. Plenty of great gay films especially recently.

Very powerful movie.. the last scene with Shirron and his mom had me tearing up.

I cannot wait to see this movie, with that said, you need to watch weekend (2011) if you havent already. Breathtaking of a movie in my opinion but would also like to see your review of that.

Am glad they end up together,to many someone is always leaving or dying so an a black gay man from Montserrat it's gives hope for my brothers and sisters back home.

Great movie. But don't compare to Love & basketball. Chiron was not thinking straightforward, he let emotions overcloud logics.

how can I look at it

to think i thought liberty city from grand theft auto was made up lol

not gonna lie thought the film was about something totally different.. Homosexuality came as a big surprise... But being fr Mia inner city it told my story of being an outcast as well. I never felt or acted hood enough like other girls, so I got picked on A LOT.. As a young a adult I changed, much like he did in the last Act of this story, to try& finally fit in.. Society can put so much pressure on U to be what's expected& kick U so hard when U don't meet those standards

i enjoyed the movie very much. And it was very well illustrated. The only thing I have about it is that as I was watching it I noticed the theater was filled with a bunch of white people. and I felt a little exposed even though the story May resonate, in part, to some degree with people of color, from economical,sociological and sexuality it doesn't speak for everyone. There is a tone and ruminants, that what we have experienced we were willing to share with a group of people who could not have understood or lived that life style.I felt a bit exploited. But it was a work of art.

I needed more passion... but it's okay... I loved it

Maybe I ain't understand , but I feel like the only one in the world that didn't like this movie

Love d movie,it showed d everyday aspects of real life, and in d black community we need 2 stop hiding behind d mask of doubt, a little of everything we can learn and b inspired by,great movie.

omg your eyebrows!!!

You look like Kevin from Moonlight.

It was beautifully made, but the movie itself was very average. I don't get the hype.

Is Kevin straight or bi? I still can't tell after watching the movie. Anyone?

non spoiler? smh the title and thumbnail tho

I was not sure if I wanted to see this movie, but I am going to see it now. Thank you so much for the review and have a gay and happy great day!!... Hugs!!...

I think it was a very amazing movie and would recommend it to anyone who happen to have a somewhat open mind. I say open minded because, in my opinion a non open minded person is going to harass the movie all the way through the movie because I feel, once again in my opinion that type of person is either in denial and don't want to come to terms with their sexuality, or maybe they just don't want o be reminded of their personal life at all. Two thumbs to the movie, and I do plan to go and see it again also. The cast was excellent, as was the writer as well as the director also. Very good work.

OMG, Don't tell me this handsome dude is gay too. What's happening to our men ?

I thought it was good. I thought hidden figures was better.

movie uses a mind control technique called jamming to make people accept homosexuality the way they do it in this movie is the black people,drug dealers ,black crackhead woman ,the projects ,the hood life, now you take all the opession and depression from these,when people see those elements people can relate to them so they will automatically accept this film ,now they put the homosexual into the story line as a character with black people with poverty with hardship with the oppressions of a poverty stricken People so that the homosexual would be accepted,the homosexual was JAMMED into those elements and categories ,THOSE ELEMENTS in this movie are not the SAME as HOMOSEXUALITY they jammed homosexuality into the this movie to make it look like it's same thing but it's not, people don't accept it because it's against nature and biology ,science .people say it's a beautiful movie WHICH PART the drug dealers ,crackhead mother, the projects,OR HOMOSEXUALITY cause that's all this movie is about targeting black people which is the last people not accepting homosexuality ,wake up

If your not gay like myself will this movie still be as good.. can a straight man relate to this movie??

Totally overrated....found myself screaming at the TV telling Chiron to speak or at least answer a question.....damn ....I get it....young black boy in the hood struggling in a macho environment....yes it's a taboo subject...but it doesn't mean that the films good.....the film is a full 1.5 hrs I won't ever get back....how Fences did not win best film over that I'll never know

The Movie was excellent but I would not call it a "Gay movie" it was so much more, however this was a good review. If you have not seen the movie go see it.......

its awful as shit

the last 30 minutes was long and drawn out, and pretty much went nowhere. I loved it up until 6 minutes into the restaurant scene.

I agree, awesome movie and I loved it! I cannot stop watching it

Great Review

You are on point with this review!

thanks, i been wanting to see it

very good review.

loooooved it!!!! saw it twice!!!

I realized there is something great about the movie, cause my mind is reeling, but there is this odd disconnect happening and it feels so odd to me. I realize that it's the fact that I have only seen few black gay films, and ones that were done well. I have been saturated with so many white gay films that I went in to Moonlight thinking it would be the same, and that where the cognitive dissonance is happening, and it's funny because deep down i like this movie, but i'm have to set aside a formula that no longer applies to me to really truly appreciate it. Ok just had an epiphany about the end...

My MCE! 😍😍😍

So slow. So long. . . Overrated.

💜💜💜

You are spot On man...

Yes Sir.

I bet you was

Our generation of love and basketball?? Really? You probably need to re-watch that movie and the love making scenes. I was very disappointed with this film, it was intense in parts but not wholly so... it was Chiron and kevin as teenagers that saved the movie for me. The first kiss on the beach, Kevin being forced to beat up his best friend and lover and Chiron's revenge on Terrel was what elevated the film. Black and Kevin's talk in the diner as adults and then later at Kevin's home was in my view an anti climatic letdown, all that divulging that led only to Chiron resting his head on Kevin's shoulder? It left me wondering if the actors were unwilling to go the extra mile, or if going that extra mile would have proven too extreme for its audience, I can't be sure of that, unless there's an alternate ending somewhere. However, Jenkins's ideological reasoning for not ending it with a powerful love making scene didn't quite cut it for me and thwarted what otherwise could have been a powerful breakthrough performance for Rhodes and Holland.

Great review! I gotta see it!

It was really great!

gay

This movie is for gay people ,the only reason it won award is because of the homosexuality in the movie ,just look how it portrayed black people in it ,its is sad when a people don't realize a phychological attack

I saw this movie and it was not all that good, people that are saying it was its not. It's judging, stereotypical, and horrible portraying of black people. Speically gay black people who just so happen to be in the "hood" or gutter. Crackhead mother, terrible friend and you know I get where it was trying to go with the drug dealer trying to at least show (little) a good time but, the whole movie was not good. I personally was disappointed. Unless someone could give me a better explanation of what this movie was about, I am sticking with My opinion.

You are so cute😀

Wack movie real talk!

He reminds me of my college dance prof haha look exactly alike. Are you Dominican?!?!

This movie was brilliant violent sad beautiful smart thought provoking real honest...simply amazing! The acting was Omg just amazing