"Manchester by the Sea" and "Moonlight": The difference in art

"Moonlight" is the weirdest movie that has been nominated for SAG Awards this year. Why wasn't "Birth of the Nation" nominated at all?

I will say that it is the movie that should never been nominated. I still don't understand what did Barry Jenkins try to show in this movie? What did he want a viewer to take away from it?

From the beginning till the end, the movie felt dry. I didn't see any plot that moves the movie along. There wasn't even a real conflict or climax that would lead the hero toward some kind of resolution. The story felt numb.

The acting was good. It wasn't stellar but, at least, the character's aspirations and struggles were shown clearly. What I wanted to know more was what happened to Juan and his girl, Teresa as our hero grew up?

Moreover, I couldn't understand what were the actors saying for most of the movie. I do understand that they were portraying the local culture. However, the pronunciation must be clearer. Actors are storytellers and to make a story compelling, an actor mustn't talk just quickly with a local accent and mannerisms, but s/he must talk clearly that a viewer would be able to understand what is being said. Otherwise, everyone watching will be lost in translation.

Though the movie was a negative experience for me, I liked how the local culture was portrayed. Yes, similar culture I've seen portrayed in real life, on TV, and in movies many times. But this was its own especially when Juan tried to befriend Little without trying to sell drugs to him; that relationship was refreshing. And search for love was familiar yet novel and unique given the setting of the movie.

Therefore, if you want to see it, go ahead. However, I wouldn't recommend it.

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"Manchester by the Sea"

The beginning of the movie was disappointing. It was very slow. However, we learn about our hero though it wasn't exciting. However, when the conflict occurs and movie unravels, I felt like I hit a wall of bricks. That was a powerful moment when the viewers learn why Lee Chandler behaves so gloomy and depressing. After that, the movie just grows and becomes a powerful force.

Casey Affleck is superb and carries the movie on his shoulders very powerfully. In fact, the cast of the movie is very good from young to more established.

One weakness, I found was the strange way flashbacks are introduced. Sometimes I found them confusing because I couldn't make connection between the past and present. Flashbacks are just dropped on a viewer out of nowhere until one gets used to them; not in my case.

I would encourage anyone to see the movie because it is the story that we all fear of happening to us either in the present or in future. As a result, on some level, we can relate to this movie because it isn't rushed. It is about life. And such a movie is now a rarity with good story line, good acting, and good directing.

Oh, the soundtrack is perfect, I think.