# Why is Moonlight a really good movie, cinematographically?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-moonlight-a-really-good-movie-cinematographically/782009>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 12, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-moonlight-a-really-good-movie-cinematographically/782009 "2017-03-12T18:43:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-moonlight-a-really-good-movie-cinematographically/782009/21 "2017-03-14T21:40:54Z")

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> [@ftg](#):
>
> A lot of the “prettiest” shots, IMHO, were recreations designed to simulate classic films of the 50s, early 60s.
> 
> So, they did a good job of imitating. Which is … ?
> 
> There was only a little bit that added some more modern stuff into the the scene, e.g., in the planetarium.
> 
> A _lot_ of the retro feel took a heavy amount of modern methods to recreate. Which is sort of interesting.
> 
> The few bits here and there of “Oh, that’s pretty.” nowhere made up for the trite and skimpy storyline of the whole film.

Are we in LaLa Land?

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-moonlight-a-really-good-movie-cinematographically/782009/22 "2017-03-14T21:42:20Z")

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> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> No? Remember, Juan is from Cuba, where they’ve been having a pretty high-profile controversial process of liberalization on gay-rights issues since about 1990. I don’t find it at all improbable that Juan is aware of the prevalence of homophobic attitudes but has also been exposed to anti-homophobia reform efforts. And of course, there’s nothing that surprising about a particular person even in a community where homophobia is widespread just happening not to be homophobic.

Thanks, that makes sense.

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**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-moonlight-a-really-good-movie-cinematographically/782009/23 "2017-03-14T21:43:58Z")

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[Here](http://www.indiewire.com/2016/10/moonlight-cinematography-color-barry-jenkins-james-laxton-alex-bickel-1201740402/)’s a good discussion with the cinematographer and color grader about what they wanted to achieve in the film’s look.

And [here’s another](https://www.lensculture.com/articles/moonlight-cinematography-the-photographic-inspirations-behind-moonlight-2016-s-best-picture) on some of the film’s visual inspirations.

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-moonlight-a-really-good-movie-cinematographically/782009/24 "2017-03-14T21:50:48Z")

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> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#):
>
> iswydt.

:smack: Me too. His Warren Beatty impression!

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