Ruth Negga

 

The “Loving” Interview

with Kam Williams

Ruth's Truth!

Ruth Negga was born in Addis Ababa on January 7, 1982 to an Irish mother and Ethiopian father. An only child, Ruth was raised in Limerick, Ireland from the age of 4, and attended Trinity College in Dublin where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Acting.

Her body of work spans award-winning theatre productions, big-screen dramas, independent films, and innovative television series. She won the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of legendary singer Shirley Bassey in the telefilm Shirley.


Stateside, she joined the Marvel Universe as Raina on the hit show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., for which she received an IFTA Award nomination. Currently, she co-stars as Tulip O’Hare opposite Dominic Cooper in the AMC series Preacher, an adaptation of the DC Comics graphic novel of the same name.


Ruth made her stage debut in Lolita at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre. Her extensive theatre credits include Duck at London’s Royal Court Theatre, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination; Playboy of the Western World, at The Old Vic; Hamlet, at the National Theatre; Phaedre, also at the National Theatre, for which was honored with the Ian Charleson Award, given annually to young classical stage actors in Britain; Oedipus Loves You, at the Peter Pan Theatre; Lay Me Down Softly, The Crucible, The Bacchae, and Burial at Thebes, all at the Abbey Theatre; and, at the Project Theatre, Titus Andronicus, for which she received the Irish Times Award for Best Actress.


Ruth was named a Shooting Star at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival. On the big screen, she's been featured in World War Z; The Samaritan, alongside Samuel L. Jackson; Breakfast on Pluto, for which she received an IFTA Award nomination; Of Mind and Music; Noble; Jimi: All Is by My Side, Warcraft; and in the title role of Iona.


Here, Ruth talks about her latest outing as Mildred Loving in Loving, the biopic/courtroom drama about the couple who took their challenge of the State of Virginia's law against interracial marriage all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kam Williams: Hi Ruth. thanks for the interview.

Ruth Negga: Oh, hi Kam. How are you?

KW: Great! And you?

RN: I'm not bad. Not too bad at all, now.

KW: I loved the film and both your and Joel Edgerton's performances.

RN: Oh, thank you!

KW: What interested you in Loving?

RN: That's a good question. Let me try to give you a concise answer. I basically fell in love with Mildred and Richard [Loving, the main characters]. I thought they were an extraordinary couple whose love just seemed so apparent. To be honest with you, Jeff's [writer/director Jeff Nichols] script was such a beautiful reflection of these human beings that I really wanted to spend time with them.

KW: What convinced Jeff Nichols to trust such an American story in the hands of leads from Australia and from Ireland by way of Ethiopia? Had you ever heard of the Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia?

RN: Yes, but I don't think that being an expert in the Loving case is what would qualify me to play Mildred. Do you know what I mean?

KW: Yes.

RN: I think my job is to be a chameleon and to disappear, so I don't think my being Irish and Ethiopian should prohibit me from playing Mildred at all. I believe that what should matter more is my skill set and my willingness to work.

KW: This is very intimate film, with a quiet chemistry generated between you and Joel via looks and tender touches. Had you two worked together before? How long did you get to rehearse with each other?

RN: Well, Jeff doesn't rehearse. He casts quite instinctively. In this case, I think he knew he was casting two actors who would be willing to work very hard. I did audition for him, and I think he was impressed with the extent to which I'd prepared for that. The thing is, he wanted people who could embody this couple, not mimic them. He'd previously worked with Joel in Midnight Special, so he'd already witnessed Joel's ability to disappear into a character. And that was a very American part, too. I believe Jeff just trusted us both as actors to do our jobs individually. And we both professed such love for this couple that he was confident that we'd try as hard as possible to recreate their love and their chemistry. He also knew, intrinsically, that we were two actors who don't act in isolation but very much rely on other actors. And Joel and I both very much felt that this was something that we could do as an ensemble.

KW: When I saw the film, I thought that this was the first time I'd seen you. Then, when I looked at your resume, I realized I'd seen you in World War Z, in Of Mind and Music, in Jimi and in a few other productions. So, that shows how much you do disappear into a role. I was very impressed. I had no idea you weren't American.

RN: Wow! that's a lovely thing to say. Thank you!

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: How did you prepare to play Mildred? What research did you need to conduct to capture the character accurately?

RN: Great question, Patricia! Luckily, Nancy Buirski had made the documentary, The Loving Story, for HBO. She first found out about Mildred Loving by reading her obituary. Being the excellent documentarian that she is, she then began digging and doing research, and she found archival footage which had been discarded that was originally intended for a contemporary documentary. And she created a documentary about this couple, weaving footage into it. So, I basically studied that and all the archival footage that we could find. The Loving Story was really a gift, because it let me sort of unlock Mildred, her physicality, the way she spoke, the timbre, tone and pitch of her voice, the way she moved, and the way she was with Richard, her kids, and the rest of her family. It really was invaluable, which is why I always quip that Nancy did my homework for me.

KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film?

RN: I don't know what people will take away from the film, but I would hope they take away the idea that it's very important that we don't forget those in history who might have been quiet agitators, people who might have changed the world in a way which was unexpected. And that should remind us that we all have the capacity to do that. Even if you think that you don't, this couple proves otherwise.

KW: I agree. I found the film to be very powerful in an understated way. It'll be interesting to see how people respond to it.

RN: It will be, you're right.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

RN: Gosh, that's a good question. Hmm... [Pauses to think] I don't know, but that's a brilliant question, I must admit. But I do love talking about this couple.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

RN: Someone's already asked me that, Kam. I answered All about Eve, because I think it's just such a brilliant film. I doubt that it could be remade any better, but I just love the character Eve Harrington.

KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory?

RN: Waiting with my mom at a bus stop in Addis Ababa during the rainy season. I remember being dressed in a pink coat and being fascinating by the raindrops hitting the pools of water. I do love rain, which you better, if you grow up in Ireland.

KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?

RN: Credit cards, stick gum attached to pennies, and an unhygienic toothpick. Honestly, my purse is just a mess. Constantly. [Laughs]

KW: Thanks again for the time, Ruth, and best of luck with Loving.

RN: Thank you ever so much, Kam. Bye!

To see a trailer for Loving, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRXuCY7tRgk

Sausage Party

Blu-Ray Review by Kam Williams

Rogen and Cronies Lend Voices to Groceries in Raunchy Animated Comedy

Frank (Seth Rogen) finds himself frustrated sitting on a shelf at Shopwells supermarket where he's cooped up in a shrink-wrapped package with seven other sausages. They pass their time speculating about what awaits them in "The Great Beyond," meaning the vast unknown just past the cash register on the other side of the door.

They're all very eager to be bought because of an unfounded belief in a rumor that the store's customers transport their groceries to a heaven-like utopia to enjoy lives of neverending bliss. And Frank has another reason he wants to leave, namely, a crush on Brenda (Kristen Wiig), the curviest of the girly Glamour Buns. 
 
Then, when they're all about to be purchased during the blowout 4th of July sale, Frank learns from a returned jar of Honey Mustard (Danny McBride) that they've been operating under a mistaken assumption all along. Truth be told, food simply gets taken home and devoured eaten by the humans. 
 
So, Frank sounds the alarm, warning, "The Gods are evil and they kill us!" Unfortunately, the news falls mostly on deaf ears, since the majority of his friends are simply way too brainwashed to catch on and resist. 
 
However, he and a few intrepid souls do question their blind faith and make a break for it, including Brenda, Sammy Bagel, Jr. (Edward Norton), Teresa the Taco (Salma Hayek), Lavash the Pita bread (David Krumholtz), Grits (Craig Robinson), Twinkies (Scott Underwood) and fellow sausages Barry (Michael Cera), Carl (Jonah Hill) and Troy (Anders Holm). What ensues is a rollicking, raunchy exploration of religion, sex and political issues from the perspective of these anthropomorphized, foul-mouthed grocery items. 
 
For example, Middle East concerns are reflected in the bitter badinage over aisle space between the bagel and the pita bread, a thinly-veiled reference to Jewish and Palestinian tensions. Race in America is touched upon when Grits complains about "Crackers" in a tirade during which he bellows "They call me Mr. Grits!" 
 
Still, most of this expletive-laced adventure is dedicated to the sort of sexual innuendo designed to titillate testosterone-sodden males. Frank's explicit flirtations with Brenda are actually matched by lesbian Teresa's equally-tawdry appeals ("I have crotch feeling for you!").

Co-directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon, Sausage Party is a hard to pigeonhole, adult-oriented cartoon. It's certainly a coarse and crude teensploitation flick which relentlessly earns its R-rating. Most reminiscent of a couple of other equally-outrageous animated adventures, namely Team America (2004) and South Park (1997), this is a take no prisoners comedy which will undoubtedly resonate with fans of such politically-incorrect shock-fare.


Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for ethnic and off-color humor, graphic sexuality, drug abuse and pervasive profanity
Running time: 89 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Blu-ray Extras: The Booth; The Great Beyond; The Pitch; Shock and Awe: How Did This Get Made?; Animation Imaginatorium; Good Food Gag Reel; and Line-O-Rama

To see a trailer for Sausage Party, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJrBPUVDJM

To order a copy of Sausage Party on Blu-ray, visit:

Morris from America

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams


Soccer Coach and Son Adjust to Germany in Character-Driven Dramedy 
 

It's hard being Morris Gentry (Markees Christmas) just now. The lonely 13 year-old is not only mourning the loss of his late mother, but is having a difficult time adjusting to life in Germany. He had to leave his hometown of Richmond and pals behind when his father (Craig Robinson) landed a job in Heidelberg as a professional soccer coach. 
 
Now, the troubled youngster finds himself in the awkward position of being the only black kid in a school where classmates have stereotypical expectations of him as an African-American. For instance, they are surprised that he isn't any good at basketball or dancing. 
 
At least he does consider himself an aspiring gangsta rapper, although the only person he can impress is his father, since he only performs in English. But even his translated words would probably sound out of place so far removed from the ghetto, given how he writes lyrics about, "[F-word]-ing all the bitches two at a time. all you can take for $10.99."

Despite getting daily German lessons from a tutor (Carla Juri), Morris fails to make new friends, and stoically asserts that he doesn't need any in the same macho manner that he spits out his rhymes. Yet, under that tough facade, is a sensitive kid who wants to fit in and even has a crush on a girl a couple years older.

Katrin (Lina Keller) can't help but notice and, flattered by the attention, she invites Morris to hang with her crowd, a rebellious lot that dabbles in drugs and alcohol. He accepts the overture, though he initially doesn't know that the object of his affection already has a boyfriend. That means she's more likely to remain a frustrating fantasy than a conquest he could boast about in his next song. 
 
Written and directed by Chad Hartigan (This Is Martin Bonner), Morris from America is a bittersweet bildungsroman which never hits a false note. The character-driven dramedy revolves mostly around the very-convincing father-son relationship, featuring the talented Markees Christmas' big screen debut opposite funnyman Craig Robinson in his first serious lead role.

The support cast also acquits itself quite admirably, the upshot amounting to a poignant coming-of-age tale which resonates as realistic from its heartbreaking beginning clear through to a satisfying resolution.



Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, brief nudity, teen drug use and partying, and pervasive profanity
In English and German with subtitles
Running time: 91 minutes
Studio: Beachside Films
Distributor: Lionsgate Home Entertainment 

Blu-Ray Extras: "The Making of Morris from America" featurette; bloopers; deleted scenes; casting tapes; audio commentary with director Chad Hartigan and actors Craig Robinson and Markees Christmas. .



To see a trailer for Morris from America, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKhFNgFdbDk

To order a copy of Morris from America on Blu-Ray, visit:  

 

Top Ten DVD List for 11-8-16

by Kam Williams

This Week’s DVD Releases

It's a Wonderful Life: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition

Among the Believers

Tikkun

Indignation

Viktoria

Taxi Driver: 40th Anniversary Edition

Indian Point

The Killing of America

Deep Web

Reign of Assassins

Honorable Mention

Bubba Ho-Tep: Collector's Edition

Okinawa: The Afterburn

Rockaway: Before and After

Sausage Party

Morris from America

 

Firesong

Capital [Miniseries]

Alpha and Omega: The Big Fureeze

The Lost Bladesman

Kickboxer: Vengeance

Child's Play: Collector's Edition

IMAX: Wonders of the Arctic

The Vincent Price Collection III

The Return of the Living Dead

Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree

BBQ with Franklin

Stick Man

L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables

Kam's Kapsules for Movies Opening November 11, 2016

 

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

 

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Almost Christmas (PG-13 for profanity, drug use and suggestive content) Holiday comedy about a dysfunctional family's first Thanksgiving gathering since the passing of its beloved matriarch. Ensemble cast includes Gabrielle Union, Nicole Ari Parker, Danny Glover, Mo'Nique, Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps, J.B. Smoove and Romany Malco.

Arrival (PG-13 for brief profanity) Sci-fi thriller about a linguist (Amy Adams) recruited by the military to lead an elite team investigating why a dozen alien spacecraft have landed at different locations around the planet. With Forest Whitaker, Jeremy Renner and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (R for violence, sexuality, pervasive profanity and brief drug use) Ang Lee directed this adaptation of the Ben Fountain best seller of the same name revolving around a 19 year-old, Iraq War vet (Joe Alwyn) who becomes disenchanted with being celebrated as a military hero while back in the States between tours of duty. With Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin, Vin Diesel and Chris Tucker.

Shut In (PG-13 for terror, violence, bloody images, nudity, mature themes and brief profanity) Suspense thriller revolving around a recently-widowed, child psychologist (Naomi Watts) who becomes convinced that the ghost of a former patient (Jacob Tremblay) has been haunting her and her bed-ridden son (Charlie Heaton). Support cast includes Oliver Platt, Clementine Poidatz and David Cubitt.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Anthropologist (Unrated) Climate change documentary assessing the prospects of the planet from the perspective of the 15 year-old daughter of an anthropology professor studying the impact of global warming on indigenous peoples.

Elle (R for violence, profanity, rape, brief graphic nudity, disturbing sexuality and grisly images) Cat-and-mouse revenge thriller revolving around a business executive's (Isabelle Huppert) attempt to track down the stranger who raped her right in her own home. With Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny and Charles Berling. (In French with subtitles)

The Fiance (Unrated) Monster flick about a beautiful bride-to-be (Carrie Keagan) who is transformed into a brutal beast after being bitten by the legendary creature known as Bigfoot (Douglas Tait). Featuring Dallas Valdez, Curt Lambert and Danni Lang.

Lazy Eye (Unrated) Homoerotic romantic dramedy set in L.A. where a graphic designer (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe) makes the most of an opportunity to rekindle a relationship with an ex (Aaron Costa Ganis) he hasn't seen in 15 years. Support cast features Michaela Watkins, Drew Barr and Harrison Givens.

The Love Witch (Unrated) Horror comedy about a witch (Samantha Robinson) who resorts to casting spells on potential suitors during her desperate quest to find Mr. Right. Cast includes Jeffrey Vincent Parise, Laura Waddell and Gian Keys.

National Bird (Unrated) Whistleblower documentary in which three veterans plagued by guilt express their misgivings about participating in the U.S. Air Force's drone warfare program. (In English and Dari with subtitles)

No Pay, Nudity (R for pervasive profanity) Character-driven dramedy set in Manhattan and revolving around an aging actor making adjustments to diminished career expectations. With Nathan Lane, Frances Conroy, Jon Michael Hill and Ethan Sandler.

Seasons (PG for mature themes) Meteorological documentary observing assorted metamorphoses in nature during the changing of the seasons. (In French with subtitles)

The Similars (Unrated) Sci-fi horror flick, set in October of 1968, revolving around eight strangers headed to Mexico City who find themselves attacked by a mysterious virus while sitting in a bus station waiting room. Ensemble cast includes Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Fernando Becerril and Humberto Busto. (In Spanish with subtitles)

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (R for violent images and brief profanity) Mario Van Peebles directed this World War II tale of survival recounting the Japanese submarine torpedo attack on a U.S. Navy ship claiming the lives of over 2/3 of the 1,197 American sailors aboard the vessel. Co-starring Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore and Thomas Jane.

Omar Sy

The “Inferno” Interview

with Kam Williams

Omar, a Rising Star!

Omar Sy is an award-winning actor, comedian, comic writer and television personality who has established himself as an international star. With over 30 screen credits on his impressive resume, Omar became a household name after the smash hit The Intouchables, his third collaboration with directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano.

His performance in that film earned Omar a César for Best Actor in 2012, and the movie went on to gross over $425 million worldwide. And he subsequently re-teamed with Nakache and Toledano in 2014 for Samba. This December, he will be seen in Hugo Gélin’s Demain Tout Commence.

Over the last several years, Omar parlayed his success in Europe into Hollywood productions, starring in X-Men: Days of Future Past with Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michael Fassbender, as well as Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World with Chris Pratt. Both films went on to achieve the highest worldwide box office grosses in their respective franchises.

More recently, he's starred in John Wells’ Burnt with Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Lily James, and Alicia Vikander, as well as in Roschdy Zem’s French-language period piece Chocolat. Here, Omar talks about playing Christoph Bouchard opposite Tom Hanks in Ron Howard's Inferno.

Kam Williams: Hi Omar. I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.

Omar Sy: My pleasure, Kam.

KW: What interested you in Inferno?

OS: It was the fact that I would have an opportunity to work with a wonderful and amazing director in Ron Howard, and with a legendary actor in Tom Hanks at the same time. Also, I don't want to spoil the story, but I liked the script and the idea of playing a character without a smile for the first time.

KW: Especially since you started out as a comedian.

OS: Yes, as actors, we're always looking for some challenges, and playing a character like Christoph, with a twist, in a very dark thriller, was a big challenge for me. And on top of everything, it was in English.

KW: I enjoyed this film more than the first two in the franchise, primarily because it had more action and less talk..

OS: Ron made Rush prior to Inferno. Rush had a lot of action scenes. Maybe he learned from that experience. Also, perhaps because so many people are interested in the issue of overpopulation, we needed less dialogue explaining it, since they were already familiar with the topic.

KW: What would you say is the movie's message?

OS: The movie explores the issue of overpopulation, and the fact that there are several ways to solve it. Each character has his solution. I think the movie's message is that to solve the problem, the humanity community needs to unite and find a global answer.

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I consider you to be the Sidney Poitier of France. How did you feel when you won the Best Actor cesar in 2012 for The Intouchables, which made you the first black French actor to achieve the honor?

OS: When I won, it was really a special moment in my life, and I knew it would change everything after that. But I never thought about being the first black actor to win, even though everybody else talked about that. If I stop to think as a black actor, people will see me differently. If I play as a black actor, people will only see that. I think my key was to perform as an actor, not as a black actor. And after winning the Cesar, I was an actor with a Cesar. there are many more adjectives to describe who I am. I'm not only black. When I won the Cesar, I was, first of all, an actor. I have to say, it's humanity first. That's the future. We have to stop seeing the skin color. I believe that's the most powerful way to change mentalities and behavior. I had to stop seeing myself in such a limited way.I started doing that as a teenager, and here I am today, because of that. I believe that's the best way to change things for black people.

KW: Patricia also says: You probably met naysayers at the beginning of your career. How did you manage to stay focused and not be deterred by their negativity? In addition, what message do you have for aspiring actors who want to achieve a successful longevity like you?

OS: It's not difficult to move forward when you have nothing to lose. Right? At the time, I had nothing to lose. So, even when people were trying to degrade me, I couldn't let them take the only thing I had, which was my dream. I had to move forward and, thank God, I kept trying.

KW: Finally, Patricia says: You have the great ability to play in movies in different countries, given that you speak several languages. The late Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene was one of my favorite African filmmakers. Would you be interested in the future to perform in Wolof and play a historical figure such as Léopold Sédar Senghor or Cheikh Anta Diop?

OS: Of course! Cheikh Anta Diop is not a Wolof. He is Fula, and I am Fula. I am fluent in Fula, so it would be easier for me to play Diop. As I said, actors are always looking for new territory, and playing an African figure would be really a great symbol for me because of my Senegalese roots. It would make my parents proud, so of course I'd do it.

KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory?

OS: Eating, singing and dancing at a family reunion. I remember a lot of people celebrating in a very small space. When I think of my parents' home, that is the ambience that comes to mind. I loved that, and it will always be a part of my life

KW: Was there a meaningful spiritual component to your childhood?

OS: Yes, because of my African roots, my parents raised us with a philosophy to always believe that there was something bigger than us, beyond.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

OS: [Laughs heartily] It's difficult to describe yourself. You will always be wrong. Only your family or friends can describe you properly. We all have a wrong idea of ourselves. I am always changing, and I will continue to change. So, I never try to describe, define or judge myself.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

OS: To stay happy!

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

OS: No. Everything's been asked. I've been interviewed by so many journalists from many different countries.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

OS: Yes, but I'm not prepared to share it in the papers. I will do it. it's just a matter of time.

KW: Judyth Piazza asks: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?

OS: Yes, they're all dreamers. A dream becomes an idea and then something concrete. I think it all starts with a dream.

KW: What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

OS: I can not say in a newspaper. [LOL]

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?

OS: The shark in Jaws. That was the first monster that really, really scared me. After seeing it, I learned how to swim, because I wanted to be able to escape.

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Is there anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

OS: No, because it was really simple. My goals were to be happy and to make things easier for my parents, which I think I did.

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

OS: Maybe I'm a little more serious at home because I want to instill good values in my kids. At home, there is often no time for jokes. On the red carpet, I'm always joking.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

OS: I just want to be a good memory, especially for my kids.

KW: How do you juggle five kids and your career?

OS: I have a wonderful wife. [Laughs]

KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?

OS: My California driver's license and a credit card. That's it!

KW: Thanks again for the time, Omar, and best of luck with the film.

OS: Thank you so much, Kam.

To see a trailer for Inferno, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH2BD49sEZI

Moonlight

Film Review by Kam Williams


Gay Ghetto Kid Struggles with His Sexual Awakening in Homoerotic Coming of Age Flick


It isn't bad enough that Chiron (Alex R. Hibbert/Ashton Sanders/Trevante Rhodes) is being raised by an emotionally-unavailable, drug-addicted, single-mom (Naomie Harris). The shy youngster also has the misfortune of having to hide the fact that he's gay, since he's experiencing pangs of sexual awakening in the midst of an African-American, ghetto culture which is homophobic to the point of violence.

Consequently, he finds himself not only being teased for being a "faggot" by a school bully (Patrick Decile) but sadistically beaten to a pulp by his best friend and secret lover, Kevin (Jaden Piner/Jharrel Jerome/Andre Holland). This sorry state of affairs has understandably left the closeted kid terribly confused. 
 
Fortunately, Chiron's mom's dealer, Juan (Mahershala Ali), and his wife, Teresa (Janelle Monae), have taken a personal interest in his welfare. They let Chiron crash at their crib whenever things get crazy at his dysfunctional mom's apartment. So, at least he has a father figure, even if it's the person pushing the poison that turned his mother into an irresponsible crack whore. 
 
Such are the dire circumstances collaborating to torpedo the troubled protagonist's potential in Moonlight, a homoerotic coming of age flick written and directed by Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy). The introspective mood piece follows the lead character's evolution from age 9 into adulthood, with Chiron and Kevin each being played by a trio of different actors. 
 
The picture convincingly conveys the sheer desperation of an abandoned street urchin searching for an oasis of sanity in a hostile world without refuge. Though this picture never offers any easy answers, it certainly will nevertheless resonate with countless black gays who've survived similar abuse during formative years spent negotiating their way through a merciless, macho, inner-city gauntlet 
 
A decidedly-dystopic, African-American answer to the relatively-sedate, suburban bildungsroman served up by Boyhood!


Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, drug use, pervasive profanity, ethnic slurs and graphic violence
Running time: 110 minutes
Studio: Plan B Entertainment
Distributor: A24


To see a trailer for Moonlight, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc