I hated MOONLIGHT. That said, this film by Barry Jenkins may be even worse. The central story is good enough, but the long, slow, lifeless scenes just pile up on each other. Long, lingering looks at actors add nothing to the story and kill the pacing.
The flashback narrative is ok but there are far too many scenes that go nowhere (like the loft rental scene). It's ad is the director has no idea when to yell "cut" and the editor doesn't edit.
On top of these basic flaws, the central characters are boring. They are in love. We get it! Move on! The mother (played by Regina King) has some potential, but even her "big scene" (a trip to Puerto Rico) isn't that big. I don't understand the Oscar nomination for King.
The real killer is that as the film moves toward a specific climax (involving the false accusation of rape and the guy's incarceration) and then pulls the rug out from under the viewer. It then tacks on a "years later" epilogue that drags on for another 5 minutes. We get it! Move on!
No wonder this was a big flop at the box office!
The flashback narrative is ok but there are far too many scenes that go nowhere (like the loft rental scene). It's ad is the director has no idea when to yell "cut" and the editor doesn't edit.
On top of these basic flaws, the central characters are boring. They are in love. We get it! Move on! The mother (played by Regina King) has some potential, but even her "big scene" (a trip to Puerto Rico) isn't that big. I don't understand the Oscar nomination for King.
The real killer is that as the film moves toward a specific climax (involving the false accusation of rape and the guy's incarceration) and then pulls the rug out from under the viewer. It then tacks on a "years later" epilogue that drags on for another 5 minutes. We get it! Move on!
No wonder this was a big flop at the box office!