Moonlight Takes Over Gotham

The IFP Gotham Awards were handed out at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City last night, and A24’s Moonlight was off to a good award-season start, taking home Best Feature and Best Screenplay to go with its previously announced special jury ensemble award. Casey Affleck won Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea, and Isabelle Huppert took Best Actress for Elle besting out award doyens Natalie Portman and Annette Bening. Check out the full list of winners below.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 26th annual Gotham Awards:

BEST FEATURE

Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)

BEST ACTOR

Casey Affleck
Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)

BEST ACTRESS

Isabelle Huppert
Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)

SPECIAL GOTHAM JURY AWARD

Cast Of Moonlight
(A24)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

O.J.: Made in America
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)

BINGHAM RAY BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR AWARD

Trey Edward Shults
Krisha (A24)

BREAKTHROUGH ACTOR

Anya Taylor-Joy
The Witch (A24)

BEST SCREENPLAY

Moonlight
Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24)

BREAKTHROUGH SERIES – LONGFORM

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Rachel Bloom & Aline Brosh McKenna, creators; Marc Webb, Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna, Erin Ehrlich, executive producers (The CW)

BREAKTHROUGH SERIES – SHORTFORM

Her Story
Jen Richards and Laura Zak, creators (herstoryshow.com)

MOONLIGHT

Have you ever seen a coming of age story that emulates Brokeback Mountain in the hood?  Well, that is exactly what the film MOONLIGHT is giving us.

MOONLIGHT absolutely glows while sharing the dysfunctional home life of "Little" in the Miami "War on Drugs" era and his struggle to figure out who he is and what his place is to be as adult in this conflicted world he exists in.

Alex R. Hibbert is exceptionally complex as Little and physically is very reminiscent of a young 50 cent.  However, the other actors that portray "Little" are all so riveting that no matter what scene you are watching, one is riveted by their performances.

Mahershala Ali is having one hell of a year!  Right off of his Recurring role in the Netflix hit, House of Cards, Ali has several features that have been released this year including Free State of Jones with Matthew McConaughey, the indie darling Kicks and now as crack dealer Juan. Ali has truly cornered the market on the bad guy, but in Moonlight he shows that even bad guys have a heart.  His scenes teaching "Little" to swim will warm and break your heart all at once.

mahershala ali in moonlight

In her film debut,  recording artist turned actress Janelle Monae appears very comfortable in front of the lens.  If this performance is any indication of what we are in store for when Hidden Figures is released (along with Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer), she may very well see herself on numerous red carpet leading to some well-deserved Oscar buzz.

janelle-monae in moonlight

Andre' Holland as Little's best friend from childhood, Kevin is sexy,..period.  Holland gives Kevin just the right amount of vulnerability to match Hibbert in some very  touching scenes.  We learn that even the men who pretend to be the hardest dudes out there need love and a gentle touch every once in a while.

Andre holland in moonlight

The one person who your mind can't forget after leaving the theatre is Naomi Harris.  As Little's crack-addicted Mom, Paula, you just want to reach up to the screen and shake some sense into her.  What mother loves that rock more than her own flesh and blood?  One of her most prolific scenes is while she is in rehab expressing her remorse for his upbringing while begging him to get off the streets.  Absolutely...heartbreaking.

naomie harris in moonlight

Moonlight can be seen in a theatre near you as of October 21st.