Blue Moon

You don’t need explosions and spectacle to create compelling drama. Blue Moon very ably demonstrates that you can succeed with just a handful of actors in a few static interior sets. If the acting and writing are good enough you will not be able to take your eyes off the screen.

And the acting and writing were both more than good enough. This is the story of Lorenz “Larry” Hart, the original partner of Dick Rogers and described in the movie as “the saddest man I know”.

It is indeed a sad tale, of how someone a bit “different” (shorter than average, gay when it wasn’t acceptable, possibly a bit ADHD) but also very talented cannot fit into a society that won’t accept him for what he is, despite his success, and he almost inevitably turns to alcohol.

Brilliantly played by Ethan Hawke, well deserving of an actual win rather than yet another unsuccessful Oscar nomination; and brilliantly written. I loved the Easter-egg “call outs” to other stories, Stephen Sondheim and Stuart Little and the costumes were nicely done too.