The Light of the Moon (2017)

One of my all time favorites.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. Had no real expectations going into it, and was pretty floored by how authentic the whole film is. The film deals with a very common, painful scenario and it's one of the best films I have seen to deal with it in such a genuine, realistic way. The writing and dialogue is incredibly natural, and the film is helped by having two very strong, raw performances at its core. I had only seen Stephanie Beatriz in the always great, always consistent show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and here she gives a powerhouse of a dramatic performance. She's heartbreaking. Also powerful is Michael Stahl-David, who's equally as great at Beatriz in perfectly delivering the material in such an honest way. I strongly recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen it. Strong writing and acting make this a must-see.

This film really moved me. It is an intense journey but well worth it. It has a naturalism and realism that is rare to find. The story is simple but not easy. A woman, Bonnie, is raped one night walking home from a bar early in the film and spends the rest of the film trying to find a way to move forward with her life. The director and writer, Jessica Thompson, brings her characters to life in such a way that you really want to walk down this road with them. The drive of the film is not from any gimmicks or tricks, just a clear eyed appraisal of real people having real struggles. Stephanie Beatriz brings the lead role, Bonnie, to life in a courageous and moving performance, layered and rich. Many of the supporting actors also did great work. I also really connected with Conrad Ricamora, who plays her best friend. This story is one that would resonate at any time, but given this moment in our history where a dark history of sexual assault is finally getting to be acknowledged, it could not have come out at a better time.

The timing of this film couldn't be better. It is a much watch for anyone who was the victim of a sexual assault or knows someone who is. You will learn so much about the physical and emotional damage it does. Director/writer Jessica Thompson has brought it, and Stephanie Beatriz gives an Oscar-worthy performance!

Writer-director Jessica M. Thompson's gaze is both compassionate and unflinching-- a remarkable feat-- as she directs Stephanie Beatriz in a truly remarkable performance. The film tackles an unfortunately necessary topic at a necessary time. We need this movie and more filmmakers with Thompson's clear-eyed voice. Long takes and a naturalistic approach make her direction standout as well.