What the helly under the moonlight

Rom-Com/Traum Reviews (Ranking) #8

I just finished Moonlight—and wow. I only got to watch two movies this week; it’s been wild busy. I locked myself in the house to complete a personal project. Am I done? Nah. But I’ve made great progress. I was on my deen.

Which is funny, ‘cause last week I listened to like three different church services—none of them Muslim (lol). I’m not Muslim either, I just like learning things and using the phrase “on my deen.” But if you know a good Jum'ah I could listen in on, let me know.

1. The first one preached about the power in God’s silence, but lowkey was my pastor talking around his latest scandal.

2. The second one was about the blessing in closed doors, which, yes, but I kept thinking—did they knock, though? Was it closed or locked? Hmm.

3. The third one was Hindu and was more of an introduction to Lord Shiva, which, wow (x2), I have to see one of those temples up close in person one day.

Hinduism honestly seems the most progressive of the three. And it feels like it has so much data—stories, variations, crossovers, deities. Like, apparently Shiva accidentally beheaded his son (who his wife made out of turmeric paste while she was home alone), and to please her, he cut the head off a passing elephant. Boom: the rebirth of Ganesha. Wild. Beautiful. But lemme stop talking about the people dem religion. I just like learning.

I took something away from all of them. If I looked back at my notes, I’m sure the takeaway was the same. Religion is beautiful in that way. Religion/spirituality has to be real—not because it's the reason for existence, but because it’s the closest reflection of it. A beautiful web of contradictions. Life.

One of this week’s films manages to take us through a good portion of a young man’s life. If you don’t usually watch these with me as I review them—this time, you should. Moonlight was good, I’m glad they got that Oscar moment.

These next sentences won’t make sense to anyone but one reader, really—and that’s fine. Hi. I don’t know why you’re hell-bent on peeping from the shadows, but I see you.
I ccccccc uuuuuuuuu. If you’d like to use your words, I’ll always listen (I’m better at it now). If not, so it go. Something better than OTB sometime? I’ve missed you. (Edit that maybe only you’ll see, I wasn’t really sure if it was you Shaggy 😅 but thank you for reading if so).

Alright, goodnight. I gotta go watch Frozen for the 50 millionth time during my lil weekly sleepover with Lay.

Okay, I’m done rambling. Here’s the spiel:

For those of you who are new, I’ve compiled a list of 178 of the best romcoms, and the plan is to watch all of them and choose my top 50 by the end of the year. I’ll randomly select 3-4 movies to watch and review weekly. Feel free to recommend some from the list or suggest movies you want me to watch first.

Movies that make it to the Top 50 list get a 👍🏾, while the ones that don’t get a 👎🏾 below their review. The place on the list is also decided randomly. At the end of the year, I’ll reevaluate the order if needed. Read more about it here, but for now, here’s what I watched this week:

Moonlight (2016)

Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney & Barry Jenkins | Directed by Barry Jenkins

Barry Jenkins, oh Barry Jenkins. That 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating? It makes all the sense in the world now. After watching If Beale Street Could Talk, I expected nothing less than stunning visuals and a delicately paced script. And Moonlight delivered, again and again. Some of the car shots even reminded me of Queen & Slim—which I also loved—tender moments framed by rearview mirrors and refracted light.

I really liked how the film is partitioned into three chapters, tracing Chiron’s life from boyhood to manhood. Watching him quietly, painfully grow into himself—and into his queerness—felt intimate and sacred. If only Juan—who I honestly wish had gone more by “Blue,” like he teased—could’ve seen how Chiron turned out.

Speaking of Blue, the spiritual (or maybe mythical?) undertones in this film are so beautifully done. Juan teaches young Chiron about the healing power of water, the ocean cradling him like a baptism. Even the layered meaning behind Chiron’s name. I’d never heard it pronounced like that before, with the “CHI” emphasized like Kanye shouting out his hometown. That detail stuck with me. Later, I found out Chiron is the name of the “wounded healer” in Greek mythology—a centaur who could heal others but not himself. That context hit deep and added so much to the story’s emotional weight.

Not going to lie, the first 30 minutes in, I thought I was watching a story about how aquatic sports save a bullied queer boy in the hood. Sike! That boy grew up to be a man serving base in all gold fronts that held his softness like a secret treasure. Honestly, I was so pleased to see a kind of “happy ending.” It felt quiet and tender, like a hand reaching across time. Chiron deserved that. A moment of connection. Of being seen. The wounded healer finally held and comforted, maybe even healed.

Did it make it to the Rom-Com Ranking Top 50 list? 👍🏾

🍿 Letterboxd review 🍿

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Love in the Villa (2022)

Written by Mark Steven Johnson | Directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Justice for my son Bonnie Bennet. This film isn’t on my list, but I watched this movie with some friends, and I’m happy to say I wasn’t the only hater - this film was predictable and not, in a whole, watch this happen way, but rather in a hurry up and happen way.

Did it make it to the Rom-Com Ranking Top 50 list? 👎🏾

🍿 Letterboxd review 🍿

🎥 Up next 🎥: Waiting to Exhale (1995), Love Jones (1997)

J