I don't know about you all, but that last segment of Moonlight—"Black"—left me emotionally wrung out. Ironically, when I saw the movie in the theater, this section left me the least moved. Not this time. Here is a thoughtful review by A.O. Scott in the New York Times. Here is an excellent review by Hilton Als in The New Yorker...and a follow up by Richard Brody in the same publication. Please read these three reviews.
1. I asked yesterday what you thought the movie was about, after the first 40 minutes. Now that you've finished it, what is it about? You can quote from any of the reviews above, refer to them, refer to what others on the blog have said, but come up with your own conclusion(s). And what scene, image, or moment, best defines what the film is about for you.
2. You're talking to a friend who has not seen the movie: would you recommend it to them? Why or why not? Is it, for you, a movie worth seeing?
We started Creed today—another film about a young black man in America today. It is, as I said in class, a sequel (of sorts) to the popular Rocky series. The original Rocky, made in 1976, was as much a surprise Oscar winner as was Moonlight in many ways: a small boxing film starring (and written by) an unknown (Sylvester Stallone). The film cost $1 million to make; it made $225 million. Creed is 30 year old Ryan Coogler's second full-length film; his first, Fruitvale Station (2013), also starred Michael B. Jordan and won many awards: it made $17 million on a $900,000 budget. Creed, costing $35 million, and made almost $174 million. It garnered a number of accolades. It made a number of bests and top 10 lists as well.
3. In class today I made one distinction between the two films: Moonlight is an art film and Creed is a commercial film. In watching the first 25 minutes of Creed, what distinguishes it most of all from Moonlight in terms of style and/or approach? This is not saying it's not as good or anything—I just want you to consider the distinction between a commercial film and an art film (imprecise terms, I realize).
200 words. Really.
Here's the trailer for Creed.
See you all tomorrow.
1) In Scott’s review he says, “A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world.” In Als’s review he says, “Like any young person, Chiron wants to be claimed bodily but is not entirely in his body. He’s growing up without much reinforcement outside Juan and Teresa’s home. Paula’s drug addiction has escalated and so has her anger.” To me, these two quote sum up what the movie is about. Chiron is trying to define himself for himself and for others in a world where it isn’t ok for him to be whoever he wishes. He doesn’t have a wide variety of role models and life styles to look up to and he cant explore his sexuality or anger without consequences. Through out the film, he is looking for a way to behave and be seen as he truly is and how others want him to be.
ReplyDelete2) I would recommend it, and I believe its worth seeing. Chiron is an interesting character and every scene we are trying to figure put more about how he sees the world and learning ore about the world around him. It’s interesting and beautiful due to the sound track and cinematography.
3) I think a distinction between Creed and Moonlight and a commercial film and an art film is the characters’ focus/journey. Moonlight doesn’t explicitly explain every change in Chiron’s world, and the ending isn’t necessarily happy or concrete. In Creed, the protagonist’s objective is clear and the movie can end in success or failure. In Moonlight, there isn’t a clear path to Chiron’s future and we are more focused on who his and what his life is like than whether he can achieve a goal.
1. In the New York Times review for Moonlight Barry said "A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world, and though it is agonizing to witness his progress, it is also thrilling. To be afforded a window into another consciousness is a gift that only art can give. To know Chiron is a privilege." I really agree with this summarization of the movie. I think that Moonlight is really about so many different issues and ideas, but mainly about a raw self portrait of a boy, Chiron. Just like Barry said Moonlight is a window into another consciousness. Moonlight for me was a movie that fully showed the complexities of characters, creating the most rounded realistic characters I have ever seen in a movie. The scene that best defines the film for me was the scene in which Chiron is hiding in the beginning from bullies. The music and sounds and camera angles really elevate the scene to create the anxiety that Chiron is feeling into the viewer. This scene really exemplifies the anxiety, and loneliness, and raw emotions of Chiron for me personally and really is a good opening for the rest of the movie.
ReplyDelete2. I would definitely recommend Moonlight to a friend. I think it is a movie worth seeing because it is such a different kind of movie than most people, especially me, normally watch. It is much more difficult and not as enjoyable as a movie like Mad Max, but it is a movie that everyone really should see.
3. I think the big distinction between Creed and Moonlight is how the viewer feels when watching it if that makes any sense. Creed is a movie that does not create (at least in me) the same emotional response, and is more of a "blockbuster" that you can pop in and watch and enjoy. Moonlight is different and more of an art film because it is hard to watch. Its not the kind of movie that you pull out for a movie night with popcorn, or that you could half pay attention to while you do something else. Moonlight really is an art, while Creed for me is entertainment. That is kind of a generalization, but in I generally feel like commercial films are the kind of movies you don't really have to think about as much, everything is more straight forward and is usually pure entertainment, while art films are the kind that you analyze and think about and watch closely.
1. I agree with Richard Brody in saying that Moonlight is "a movie about a young black man who is contending with the feeling that he might be gay," and later when he speaks more broadly about the film being about identity and consciousness. I think Chiron was struggling to identify who he was due to his lack of guidance, the bullying, the exposure to so many adult things at such a young age, and lots of other elements. His lack of placement in the world makes him feel isolated and he's left with few people to turn to. I think this movie is about the battle to figure out who you are in the face of so many other challenges, constantly obscuring your view and messing with your judgement. One scene that stuck with me was the scene with adult Kevin outside the restaurant smoking a cigarette. I don't know why this stuck with me but it just fit so well to me and seemed so necessary even though it didn't really do anything for the story. It made me feel like I was looking at Kevin through the eyes of Chiron, staring at him and memorizing a moment so insignificant.
ReplyDelete2. Yea for sure. I think it's a great example of how times are changing and of the progress we're making in the film industry to further diversify the content in movies and to address different subjects. I think the movie is also just really beautiful and different from anything I've ever seen. It captured a lot of organic, overlooked moments that make the biggest difference in movies and enable you to make a connection to these characters who you may have nothing in common with.
3. The story was developed a lot faster and it was all incredibly dramatic. I felt like at first it might've been heading in a different direction, but once Michael was an adult his decisions and his actions seemed too unreal. His approach to certain situations irritated me after watching Moonlight because of how insightful and detail-oriented it was. In Creed, I need to remember that the movie was made to entertain rather than to address complex questions of identity.
1. I think Moonlight is about a young, silent, black child who has to learn how to understand himself and the world around him (agreeing with what was said by Scott). The movie captures so many different ideas it is very difficult to think of all of them, but some of the ideas brought up in the movie are: being a gay man in this community, being a young black man, prison/fighting/criminal justice system, being lower class, feeling disconnected from family, feeling unwanted, drugs, and growing older. This movie brings up all these topics while showing glimpses into the life of Chiron as he “finds his place in the world” (Brody), and how the things that are said or done to him affect the person he becomes in the future. The scene that best defines what this film is about for me is when young Chiron is asking the questions at the dinner table. Children often show the truth in difficult situations, and it was amazing hearing how Chiron knew about what was going on around him, and hearing the confusion about his own identity. That scene was very moving.
ReplyDelete2. I would definitely recommend this movie and it is worth seeing. The acting (and the way the actors complemented each other), of course, is incredible, but it also makes you think. It is, as Scott said, “an unbearably person film” that not only makes you connect with the characters, but is beautifully made. The music, the colors, and the imagery, the plot that is incomplete but says everything you need to know, all come together in this movie. It is, as Richard Brody said, full of “stunned consciousness and heightened alertness”.
3. So far, Creed doesn’t have the beautiful imagery or meaning that I saw in Moonlight. Moonlight didn’t full out explain Chirone to the audience, and didn’t force any ideas into your head. In Creed, I already get where the plot is going, and I feel like I know the story, and I still don’t care about the characters. Moonlight has extraordinary details and alertness, and Creed doesn’t have that personal feeling and doesn’t really have room for interpretation.
1. In the New York Times article by Hilton Als, he states "Rhodes’s portrayal of the grownup Chiron feels like a natural evolution from the earlier performances. The gold fronts that his Chiron wears are just another form of armor against longing, in a mouth that yearns to taste Kevin’s once again, to relive that forbidden love, for which black men sometimes punish one another. Rarely has the world taught them not to." I think this quote perfectly summarizes Moonlight; a young, black boy growing up and learning to wrestle with the concept of identity, and what is acceptable for him as a man in society. This quote brings up the topic of Chiron's facade in part three, when he bulks up and wears fronts, and even begins trapping in order to conform to that societally accepted image that he saw growing up. How much respect Juan had in his town, and how Juan was a father figure for Chiron is clear when Chiron is older: Juan's identity played a huge role in who Chiron became. Parts one, two, and three show Chiron's evolution in his relationship with himself and other people. Because Chiron grew up in a time where being gay was not accepted, he did not accept himself, even after experiencing intimacy with Kevin. Chiron saw how Kevin hid his own sexuality by beating him, which further put him into the closet. Not until fully confiding in Kevin at the end of the movie did Chiron seemingly accept this part of him.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I definitely would say it's a movie worth seeing. It addresses societal issues in a beautifully artistic way, and even makes the watcher feel comforted. Not only are the characters developed incredibly well, but the scenery and cinematography was impeccable. The actors were acting through both dialogue and emotions, and the plot was compelling. Because the watcher is seeing Chiron grow up and develop and come to terms with many personal issues, they connect with him, feel for his situation, and, on some level, experience the pain he is experiencing.
3. I think the difference between a commercial and an art film is in the way the director and writer decide to approach the protagonist's issue. In Moonlight, it was portrayed artistically, and Chiron never explicitly stated "I am gay" or "I am unhappy and struggling with who I am", but his story and emotions were told through the film itself. Sometimes there were scenes where barely anything was said, but from contextual evidence, I could read what Chiron and other characters were feeling/thinking. In Creed, however, his issue is blatantly stated (and many times, in fact) during the first 25 minutes we watched today. He says he is a fighter at heart, and his father being a renowned boxer had an influence on his love for fighting. Because of this straightforwardness, I think there is less room for interpretation, which is a massive part in artistic films and not so much in commercial films.
1. A.O. Scott writes, "A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world, and though it is agonizing to witness his progress, it is also thrilling. To be afforded a window into another consciousness is a gift that only art can give. To know Chiron is a privilege." I agree with Scott. I think the movie is about finding ones self, especially in a world where everything seems to be against you. Throughout the movie, Chiron tried to be someone who he wasn't. Especially in chapter three, he would talk about girls he was with and wore a grill. He was pretending to be someone he really wasn't. But when he goes to visit Kevin, I think he finally realizes who he really is. Kevin questions what Chiron, wondering why he got so big and is wearing grills. I think the moment at the end of the film where he and Kevin are holding each other is where Chiron really finds himself.
ReplyDelete2. I think it is a movie worth seeing that I would recommend. First of all, it did win the Oscar for Best Picture, so in that sense I feel like it is a must-see. Secondly, I think it is incredibly well made. At certain points it was a bit too artsy for me, but I think that is what makes it so good. The music and color of the film really play into the storyline, which makes it so good.
3. I think the main difference between the two films is how they are each portrayed and made. Moonlight is clearly an artsy movie that is focused on the deep color and images, which play into the characters and plot. Creed, meanwhile, is more about the story of Adonis Creed and his relationship with Rocky. I think this film is solely for entertainment purposes while Moonlight is artistic and has ideas that viewers can learn from. So, I think the purposes of each film makes them different.
1. I agree with Scott , "[t]he boy doesn’t even say his name, Chiron, until Juan nudges him: “You don’t talk much but you damn sure can eat.” The affectionate scolding makes Chiron (Alex Hibbert, a first-time actor, who couldn’t be better) sit up and take notice; it tells him that he counts. And he knows he counts even more when Juan calls him by his nickname—Little—as a way of claiming him." This quote represents the meaning of Moonlight -- a movie that transcends coming of age into a movie about finding his authentic self and a place in his world. One seen that best describes Moonlight to me is when Chiron is a young boy, he asks Juan what a "f*ggot" is, Chiron then goes into deeper questioning to ask if he is one. Juan and Teresa answer Chiron's questions in an accepting way saying that he may be gay but he would never be a "f*ggot". This scene sums up the movie because it shows insight into what Chiron is feeling and empathy.
ReplyDelete2. I would definitely recommend Moonlight to anyone who asked. This is a movie worth seeing because of its filming, and the characters. I felt a strong connection towards Chiron because his character is complex and very interesting. The filming of the movie is a main reason in what makes it artistic, this movie is filmed in an unique way. I really enjoyed this movie.
3. The main difference between Creed and Moonlight is that Moonlight has an unique way of filming with beautiful cinematography, and while Creed still has great filming but it isn't as artistic. Another big difference between the two movies is that Creed's plot has already unfolded in the first 25 minutes and I can predict a clear ending, while Moonlight was more complex and slower paced. In Creed I don't have as strong of an emotional connection towards the characters than I had in Moonlight. Even with these differences I still enjoy both movies.
1. It’s so hard to name a single aspect of the film that describes the movie or signifies what it’s about. This movie is about race, sexuality, drug abuse, bullying, and so much more. I think the great thing about this movie is, and this was in one of the reviews, is that it really defies all expectations. I don’t think anyone truly sees where it’s going.
ReplyDelete2. I actually recommended it to some of my friends today after school. They told me they hadn’t seen it yet because they’d watched several depressing movies and they didn’t think they could handle the sadness. I told them that yeah there are some very depressing aspects/scenes but overall the movie is really amazing and that in the end I came to a happy conclusion because (I didn’t say this because it would spoil it) but Black finds himself I think, or at least the lack of a solid conclusion allows me to believe that he has.
3. Creed is a sports movie with fighting and family drama but without all the background and (good) drama that Moonlight has. Moonlight has quality cinematography with beautiful close ups of the actors and settings that compliment them. Creed is more focused on the “resumé” (I don’t know the proper term) of each wrestler and the HBO segment on the two undefeated fighters and whatnot.
1. What is Moonlight about? To me, it is about a character finding himself, or as Scott states perfectly: "A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world, and though it is agonizing to witness his progress, it is also thrilling." This film is also about perception, given in when Juan tells his story about being named blue, he then continues to tell Chiron to not let other people determine who you are. Kevin also tells Chiron that even if he's strong, he has to show the other kids that he's strong; or: 'it doesn't matter what you are, other people will always perceive you in their own way, you have to convince them otherwise' (which I think is a big part in Chiron becoming a drug dealer, it also in part hides his internal struggle). Moonlight is a fully relatable film though, as Richard Brody states: "the subject of “Moonlight” isn’t blackness or gayness; it’s one man whose many qualities include being black and being gay."
ReplyDelete2. Yes, Moonlight is a must see movie, because it tells a brutally true story that everybody in some way can relate to. Also, the cinematography is great (with several long shots of conversation, and I have to mention the colors), the acting is amazing (gotta love Ali), and the uniqueness of this movie all make it a must see for any movie goer.
3. Biggest difference between Moonlight and Creed: the pacing. Creed is very fast paced (not quite Fury Road level though), while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it doesn't allow the audience to get as emotional, and also makes it easier to be watched by the standard audience. With Moonlight, it's slow on purpose, in part to allow space for emotions to emerge within the audience. Technically, there's also some major differences. Creed doesn't really say anything with the framing or colors used, while Moonlight shows intensity with different types of shots, and matches the colors with consistent notes of blue (which I noticed a lot when watching Moonlight for the third time). Creed isn't completely bare in that matter though, the first shot of the first fight scene is very long, and clearly shows that some effort was put in making this a more artistically directed film (also, I can't wait for that one fight that's filmed in one shot, it's pretty cool). A large part of the difference in details between the two films is that Creed is going for the larger movie-going audience, who won't care as much about how something is filmed.
1. As other people have mentioned A. O. Scott does a great job at summing up a movie that is very hard to encompass in a matter of sentences. He says, “A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world, and though it is agonizing to witness his progress, it is also thrilling.” This movie shows the growth of the main character, Chiron, through three stages of his life which all portray separate phases of him but are all tied together with a common thread. The movie is able to address countless aspects of life all through the portrayal of one boys journey, showing issues addressing racism, sexism, sexuality, drug abuse, bulling, and so much more through the vulnerability and rawness of the film. I think a scene that represents what this movie is about is the last scene we see with Juan when Chiron asks questions about names he had been called and then if Juan was a drug dealer. I think this scene encompasses much of the movie because it connects Chiron’s issues of sexuality, and conflicts with his mother and drugs. It also touches on the topic vulnerability in men, as juan is seen crying in the scene after Chiron leaves. This is important because this topic of sensitivity and emotion on men end up being a huge part of the rest of the movie.
ReplyDelete2. I think this is a movie worth seeing because it is not only technically beautiful and emotional with camera angles and color choices it also develops layered characters and an agonizing yet beautiful plot.
3. I think the main difference i’ve noticed so far between the art films we have seen and this commercial film is that in art films such as moonlight the color and other visual choices are not only very apparent but they also hold deep meaning and add a layer to the film. On the other hand, this commercial film bases itself off plot and less deep meaning among the visual aspects.
1.Scott says that this is the story of a "bullied, neglected, and all-but silent child" who "grows towards a better understanding of himself and his world." This is close, but I'm not convinced Chiron has really found himself at the end. At the very least, I don't think he's had the courage, or the means, to be that person. He is a closeted gay man who has rebuilt himself "hard." In moving to Atlanta, he Had the opportunity to build a new self image, and he chose to follow stereotypical masculinity. I'm not convinced this is who Chiron really is or wants to be. He hasn't found the peace of mind that Kevin has. To me, this is a story about just how hard it can be to find a better understanding of yourself.
ReplyDelete2. It is absolutely worth seeing. It is an excellent movie. The cinematography is beautiful, and Chiron says almost as little as Mad Max, but we start to understand who he is. In a few carefully chosen points of his life, the movie builds a picture of this quiet boy. That takes a whole lot more skill and, to me, has a greater impact than building a vague character and scenes of grand violence through few words.
3. Adonis takes action, sometimes going too far with it. He could have a comfortable, luxurious life, but chooses to go out and fight. While Chiron is quiet and has trouble defining himself, Adonis is aggressively determined to do what he wants. That said, both of them seem to embrace a very defined picture of masculinity. Adonis's will to fight makes the movie a much faster, louder, and more action-packed movie.
I think that this movie is about Chiron learning about himself and growing as a person in an environment that has only ever brought him down as Scott says he was bullied and neglected. We got to see grow from a young boy questioning his sexuality to a man still questioning. It's about trying to fit in, it's almost a coming of age story. I think the moment that best defines the film is when Chiron is talking to his mother and then they both start crying and he lights her a cigarette. It shows his vulnerability but also still more growth to be fulfilled because the mom still smokes.
ReplyDelete2. I think that it's a movie worth seeing even though it's not the most exciting movie. I would warn them that it kind of leaves you empty at the end because you want to find out more. I would say it's a movie that has a heavy impact for multiple communities and it's a really beautifully filmed movie. Also the acting was really amazing because you truly feel empathy for a lot of the characters.
3. It tries to appeal to a lot of people by not really focusing heavily on one particular group of people. It has more known actors in it these people have seen in previous movies. I think it's really cookie cutter because we know the ending already. The son is gonna train with Rocky and then get into a fight, lose at first, but then win in the end and feel like he's made his father proud. Nothing about this movie gives me plot twist vibes so it's very basic in that sense.
1. “What strikes me now is less the pain of Chiron’s circumstances than the sense that, in spite of everything, he is free. A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world, and though it is agonizing to witness his progress, it is also thrilling. To be afforded a window into another consciousness is a gift that only art can give. To know Chiron is a privilege.” I know everyone else has already used this line from Scott’s review, but I believe it’s the truest to the meaning of the film as a whole. I didn’t realize the movie had ended when John paused and started setting up our next cinematic experience, and I think that’s because Chiron’s life wasn’t over. What I mean is simply that, like Scott says, this is a window into another person’s life, Chiron’s, yet the person transcends the piece. Chiron is real. We’ve watched him grow and learn and grow some more from the time he was a baggy shirt wearing kid to now, the gold front wearing man who finds love in a best friend. He’s a person whose life doesn’t end with the closing credits; it lives on with all those who witness it, in their memories and in their hearts, for to know Chiron is to love him, to understand him, and to never forget him. This movie is about a boy named Chiron learning what it means to be himself, a man and a human.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, this is most definitely a movie worth seeing. One of the main reasons besides all that I mentioned in the previous question, for me, is that it makes me care, makes me feel, without having me see myself in any of the characters. As Scott put it, “To insist that stories about poor, oppressed or otherwise marginal groups of people are really about everyone can be a way of denying their specificity. The universe is far too granular and far too vast for any one of us to comprehend, and Mr. Jenkins is far too disciplined a filmmaker to turn his characters into symbols. He does not generalize. He empathizes.” Also, it’s a pretty beautiful movie. The scene in the water when he’s learning to swim, the one of the fight between him and his mother when he’s young, the fight scene of his teenage years, and really every snippet in between, they’re all just so artful. Screenshots from each one could be their own, award-winning photos. To be beautiful and gritty is something not often done well, so yes, you should definitely see this movie, because I fear we’ve become to accustomed to having to choose between a powerful story and one pleasurable to watch.
3. The most striking difference to me is that while a commercial film is focused on plot, an art film is focused on production. Creed seems like it’ll progress in the typical, linear manner of an underdog-hero. Moonlight was anything but typical. It doesn’t show Juan’s death or Chiron dealing with his death, an easy ploy for sympathy and cheap feelings from the audience, nor did it show him in jail, also a ploy to make us feel bad for the poor, black boy in prison without actually knowing him. I, personally, really like Creed in that it gives me a bit of a break. I can watch, interested and willing, but I don’t feel as though I know the main character, nor do I empathize with his struggle all that much. I don’t get why fighting’s important to him other than the obvious: his father died doing it, and honestly, that feels like kind of weak reasoning to me because there was no relationship between the two developed as of yet. Anyway, I like them both, but I would recommend Moonlight where I don’t think I’d advertise the fact that I’ve seen Creed.