Moonlight Gets a Release Date
Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 9:51AM Yesterday Mahershala Ali got invited to be an Academy member and now he has a movie that might get him nominated next year. Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue (what a great title, why change it?) by Tarrell Alvin McCraney, is scheduled to open limited on Oct. 21. The movie tells the story of a young man who comes of age in 1980s Miami, focusing on on his quarter-life crisis, challenging environment and awakening sexuality.
The ensemble cast includes many fantastic actors we’ve all loved and wished they’d get the movie showcase that their talents calls for. In addition to Ali we get Naomie Harris and Andre Holland. Playing the lead character, at different times of his life, are newcomers Trevante Rhodes and Ashton Sanders. The movie not only has good buzz (word is that Harris in particular is a revelation) but also excellent pedigree. One of the producers is Brad Pitt. The director Barry Jenkins was named by NYTimes as one of 20 Directors to Watch, a couple of years ago. His first film was the little seen but hugely admired Medicine for Melancholy (2008), a grittier less romantic but no less absorbing Before Sunset.
Not a lot is known about the film - there are even no pictures released. We have to make do with those three very attractive faces at different awards ceremonies in lieu of that. But it’s definitely one to keep an eye on and get excited about in these slow summer days of great weather and bad blockbusters.
Are you ready for fall movies? (20th Century Women was also announced for 4th quarter).
Reader Comments (17)
So excited for Naomie Harris if this one catches on. Love her in everything thus far.
Also excited for Andre Holland. Despite being a not-great film, he was fantastic in Black and White.
It reminds when they had that great title "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf" and they butchered it...
I despise whoever is in charge of re-titling movies!!!
Long titles rarely sell movie tickets. People are actually discouraged by them. And please do not use tent pole franchises as an example to the contrary. Once something is a brand the public does not care what additional words they add on for the sequel.
Love Naomie Harris. I first noticed her as the island police offer in After the Sunset--gorgeous woman.
I'm looking forward to this and more great black actors getting a chance to shine, but way to bury the lede! 20th Century Women got picked up by A24! Between these two and American Honey, they got quite a Fall line-up. Hell, they've got a quite an annual line-up, period. The Lobster, Green Room, Krisha, The Witch, De Palma, Swiss Army Men, Equals, Morris From America...2017 already lookin' sharp with new films from Ben Wheatley and John Cameron Mitchell.
As for "Am I ready for the fall movies", the answer is an emphatic YES. This summer has been particularly dire for big mainstream entertainment. It reminds me of 2013, where the sole big wide release highlight was Edgar Wright's The World's End, which was madcap, heartfelt, hilarious, exciting, beautifully filmed, and something I genuinely wanted to return to on the blu-ray. I can't say the same about anything from this summer's batch of sequels nobody asked for and boring adaptations of Tarzan and Warcraft. I think only Jason Bourne has the chance of being very good, based on the precedent set by the last two Greengrass/Damon Bourne films.
I've been looking forward to this one since they announced the cast. Very happy to hear the good word about it.
Of course Naomie Harris is fantastic, when has she not been? - she's great in everything! Love her so much!
I'm genuinely excited for this! I've loved Naomie Harris ever since 28 Days Later, an underrated performance if you ask me.
That's another one this year for Ms. Harris, who also does a fine job in Our Kind of Traitor opposite our Ewan and is sure to be great in Collateral Beauty.
Brad Pitt is turning out to be a great producer, and I'm willing to watch Andre Holland in anything. He's my pick for Supporting Actor at the Emmys this year.
I have loved Ali ever since The 4400. He is an amazing actor. I keep hoping he will really break through.
I've been dying for Barry Jenkins to follow up Medicine for Melancholy, so I'm glad the wait is almost over! It's especially exciting to see him returning to his/our hometown for the feature. I'm not familiar with the play, but I've seen a production of another one of the author's works and it was stunning.
This cast looks great, too!
The trailer is here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc
Great trailer. Does anyone recognize the music? It sounds familiar but I can't place it.
Until someone here does a write up on the trailer I will continue to bump this thread.
bump