5 Reasons You Must See 'Moonlight'

Even though the way it won Best Picture was a total fiasco, the well-deserved, Academy-Award winning feature film Moonlight is the movie the world needs right now. 

The coming-of-age film tells the story of a black teen boy figuring out who he is while facing obstacles at home and bullying at school. Told in three acts, we see the protagonist at three different stages of his life struggling with this sexuality and the world around him. 

We saw the film. It broke our hearts but we loved it. Here are just five of the many reasons you have to see Moonlight. After reading, cancel your plans tonight, get your hands on a copy of the film, and call up your best Judy. It's movie night.

1. The cinematography

Set in Miami during the "War on Drugs," you can get lost in the visuals alone. With sweeping camera angles and really intensely intimate shots that vividly portray the protagonist's struggle to break free, the film is a visual masterpiece.

2. The cast

Moonlight is filled with amazing talent, including Trevante Rhodes (who is sexy as hell), André Holland, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Naomie Harris, and Best-Supporting Actor winner Mahershala Ali. Every cast member portrays their assigned role perfectly. We have a feeling we will be hearing many of these names a lot more in the future. 

3. Janelle Monáe 

Yes, we mentioned the rest of the cast, but we have to give Monáe her own shout-out. We didn't think it was possible to love her even more. Well, seeing Moonlight has officially debunked that theory. Not only is her acting spot on, her character is super lovable too. And she totally slays in the NASA flick Hidden Figures with Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson!

4. It's an important story

Everyone needs to see this movie. It's a heart-wrenching coming-of-age story of a human being facing bullying at school and living with a drug-addicted mother...all while trying to figure out his own identity, too. So, yeah—it's emotionally a lot. It sheds light on the topic of queerness, masculinity, and gayness in the black community, hopefully opening many doors and much more needed dialogue on this important subject. 

5. And it's told really beautifully

Intimate and simple, every scene is a really powerful moment that is told beautifully with few but strong words. Take the early scene where kid Chiron (Alex Hibbert) asks the local drug dealer (Mahershala Ali) if he is a faggot. Or the moment when teenage Chiron (Ashton Sanders) and Kevin (Jharrel Jerome) find themselves on the beach, discovering new parts of themselves and each other. At the end, director Barry Jenkins leaves you wanting more and more!

Watch the trailer below and then run to see this film!