Sunday, November 27, 2016

Moonlight - Movie Review

Moonlight (NR) 111 mins A-
"No more hope of holding your body in the moonlight. Did I fall in love for nothing?"
~ Michael Damian

Moonlight is like no other film I've seen this year. A film so raw and emotionally honest it's almost hard to watch. However, don't let that scare you off. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin. It is a rare cinematic exploration into African-American masculinity and queer identity. In its own reserved, sad, and elegant way, it's nearly a masterpiece.

Set in Miami during the 1980s, the story follows a young man named Chiron (aka "Little" aka "Black") and told in three vignettes: 1.) His childhood - he's bullied 2.) Teenage years - he's bullied and confused 3.) Early adulthood - well, let's not give it all away :-) This film feels like a game changer. It takes familiar themes (bullying, drug addiction, poverty) and defies stereotypes. The film is melancholy and tender. James Laxton’s cinematography is exquisite. Moonlight is a worthy film sure to cast a different tint on the Academy Awards ceremony come February 26.

The trailer for Moonlight (courtesy of YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc


Monday, November 14, 2016

Bad Fame - Book Review

Published June 2015
Bad Fame - Martin McGovern A-

These poems snuck up on me, surprised me, and set up camp in my imagination. McGovern's humble debut collection is carefully plotted, artfully humanistic, and quietly resilient. I also love the book's cover image (courtesy of Joslyn Winters). My favorite poems include:

Blue
All Hallows Eve / Anniversary
Tonight Mars is over by the Moon, Look
For Charles and Mary Lamb
Hospital Corner
I Feel Guilty Watch You Sleep

Monday, November 7, 2016

Gone Girl - Book Review

Published June 2012
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn A

So far-fetched; yet, so well-written. At times, Gone Girl felt so real it hurt... the mark of a great novel.

Check out the trailer for the film adaptation starring Ben Affleck & Rosamund Pike courtesy of YouTube (both the book and film are highly recommended). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-_-1nJf8Vg