By: Dominic La-Viola
In Linklater’s newest directorial effort, comes Blue Moon. Telling the story of Lorenz Hart’s struggles with alcoholism and mental health as he tries to save face during the opening of “Oklahoma!”. All while giving us a glimpse into his life and life’s work.
Richard Linklater has proven once more why he is a master of storytelling. Composing an entire film over the course of 100 minutes. All taking place in one setting. While never losing the audience’s focus.
Which might sound minuscule to some; however, to the contrary, being able to tell an entire story in a single setting arguably is one of the most challenging tasks. With the exception of action films like “Die Hard” and “The Raid,” for the action is what moves the story.
The dialogue and performances, of course, are the driving factors of a film of this nature. Yet Linklater takes it a step further. Integrating the score and the cinematography to play as much of an important role.
Given the fact that the movie is about a famous songwriter, one who specialized in writing songs for musicals. The score is subtle yet captivating.
The cinematography has a similar effect, using subtle yet effective techniques to not only enhance the story’s emotional impact but also allow the film to feel less stiff. By simply not just having the camera in a stationary position the entire time. Which is a detail a director with less range probably would have done.
As much as Robert Kaplan has to be credited for his screenplay, for its fantastic dialog. Which without it, the film simply wouldn’t work. Ethan Hawke’s performance really is the backbone of this film.
For the first hour or so of this movie, Ethan Hawke is sitting at this bar talking to the bartender and the piano player, telling about this girl. A girl that he’s desperately in love with. A 20-year-old from Yale.
Which is the major focus of the film, in its entirety? This being the night of the opening of “Oklahoma!”, is merely the backdrop. Everything that happens in the film is due to his dying love for this 20-year-old female Yale student, played by Margaret Qualley. Who also gives a phenomenal performance.
Although the story is not what one might think. For from the opening of the film, we learn that he’s not necessarily gay, but he historically prefers men over women, as far as sexual activity is concerned.
The dialog and even some of the jokes make it as if his sexuality was very well known and he was rather open about being a homosexual. Although given the time in which the events took place, I do think that detail might have been a bit over-embellished.
Although his sexuality and his lovesick, obsessive love for Elizabeth were not only the core of the film but very much the forefront, Linklater manages to explore all the other aspects of his life as well in the undertone. Giving us everything we need to not only fully understand the story but to understand Lorenzo Hart.
Not only understand but see all his struggles and problems he endured. Capturing not only the last few months of his life and the issues and struggles that he faced towards the end of his life. But also giving us an insight into his brilliance and impact on not only the industry but the people in whose lives he touched.
Blue Moon is a fantastic, character-driven film that at times burns slow. But at no time does the flame go out. I hope this is not the last time Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater work together, because as always, they’ve teamed up to make an amazing film.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Star.
Four Time Film School Dropout 
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