Moonlight : Do you really think Mahershala Ali deserves the hype for this role?

Yes I do. I thought he gave the best performance in a film filled with great performances.

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Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

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Even though his screen time was minimal, I thought there was something so natural and authentic about his performance. It was the kind of role where an actor isn't acting at all and just completely blends into the persona of the character being portrayed. From the way he walked and talked, to the way he was trying to get the little boy to speak, to his interactions with the boy's mother, to teaching the boy how to swim and telling the story about finding your own way in the worldeverything felt so raw and real, like I was watching a documentary instead of a movie. And of course the scene where they're sitting at the dining table and he is struggling to hold back tears after Chiron asks him those questions - what an emotional punch to the gut.

Just saw the movie and when I left u said to my friend I hope the drug dealer in the beginning gets nominated and I'm so happy to find out he did.

I think you may need to learn more about time. MA was onscreen for maybe 15 - 20 minutes, and these days that's enough to be eligible for supporting actor. In the olden days it wasn't, then Judy Dench got a supporting Oscar for about 4 minutes in Shakespeare in Love. That probably was when everything changed. I for one think that choice was absurd, but I'm not in charge.

Now Michelle Williams is onscreen in Manchester for about the same amount of time as Mahershala Ali is, and both gave such wonderful performances, they really deserve a nod.

I thought Mahershala was better in "Luke Cage" on Netflix actually. And I think the teenage actor who played Chiron did the best acting of any of the men in the film. When he broke down in the counselor's office, that was powerful. He and Noemie Harris stood out the most for me.

Self-Respect and a hymen are better than friends and fun. Love, Mom-Amy, The Big Bang Theory

I think he deserves the oscar nomination, it is supporting actor after all. The screentime isn't relevant. I thought one of the best scenes of the film was when he and chiron were sitting and talking at his dinner table. Very memeroble, very powerful. And a lot of it has to do with his performance.

But i do agree that the actors playing teenage and older chiron were both great. I thought Ashton Sanders should have been nominated as well, for lead actor, or supporting if his performance doesn't count as lead performance since three different actors play the lead role.

Regardless of the screentime, the teenage, older, and even kid Chiron gave more in the film. I don't get all the hype as well.

Mahershala did a really good job, but no. I don't think he deserves all the hype he's getting. Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes were both much more powerful in their performances, and both deserve Best Supporting Actor nominations more.

I say Best Supporting because, despite portraying the main character of the film, they are each only in 1/3 of it.

There is another reason to fill your heart with hatred.

OP - thanks for this thread. I also don't see why Ali is getting all the hype. His performance was good, not more. I give the highest praise to Alex Hibbert, the kid who played Little. He conveyed so much without words and was true every moment. The actor who played the teenage Chiron, Ashton Sanders, was also excellent. Both were better than Ali.

No he is the token black actor who will get an Oscar this year. After the white Oscars blackout for the past twp years you KNOW a minority is going to win. I prefer Dev Patel to win for Lion because he deserves it. This guy does not have the acting resume Dev Patel has. Patel is younger and a superior actor.

I'm seeing the film tonight, so I can't really comment on whether or not Ali's role deserves hype.

But as per the argument about whether he deserves a Best Supporting nod based on his screen time, see 'Network'. Ned Beatty is in that film for one scene that lasts about five minutes and he got a Best Supporting nod as well. When you see it, you'll know that an amazing and memorable performance is completely achievable in a small space of time.

Trevante Rhodes should have gotten the nod over Ali. Though I really like Ali as an actor and thought his small performance in this film was pretty dang good.

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not denying he's a good actor but the guy is in the film for about 4 mins total.

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There have been several extremely short supporting performances that nonetheless were nominated for or even won Oscars. Hermione Baddeley was in A Room at the Top for only a little more than two minutes, and she was nominated for an Oscar. Beatrice Straight was in Network for under 6 minutes, and she won an Oscar. Size doesn't matter.

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I kept expecting him to turn up in later scenes.

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How could you have expected him to show up in later scenes? During the middle section of the movie, various characters kept talking about the fact that he had died. Since his character was dead, why would you have any expectation that he would show up again, except maybe in a flashback?

I did like his acting in a few scenes and he was by far my favorite character. I wish he had more screentime dammit.


Lose the Game!!!!!!!

Totaly agree.

There were actors that were robbed for Supporting role on the past. Val Kilmer for Tombstone wasnt even nominated!!! One of the best performances ever for supporting roleCheck his performance and correlate it with Mahershala AliLaughableAnd Mahershala Ali is a good actor I dont mean the opposite

So powerful and effective. Lit up the screen in every scene. So yes

He doesn't deserve the hype, because it's such a small performance, but it's a really good one, and massively refreshing to see something of that nature gaining the traction that it is. It's just a shame all of the awards will inevitably warp peoples expectations going in.

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You might even provide a heaven for them Hell we can make for ourselves

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Do you really think Mahershala Ali deserves the hype for this role?

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HELL YEAH!

No.

I actually think he kind of stole the movie. Like someone said, lit up the screen in every scene he was in. Very natural and touching, had really gotten under the skin of his character. A great supporting role.

True.
He was good, but the movie wasn't so it wasn't a tough thing to do.

True.
He was good, but the movie wasn't so it wasn't a tough thing to do.

I've just watched the film (I'm in Europe and the release is very limited) and this is what shocks me most. That late into the award season, with all the praise MA has received and how offended many people were by the alleged "snub" when he lost at the Golden Globes, I was expecting so much more from him in this role. I'm not saying I didn't like it. I did. It's a good role and he did a good job, but with all the hype it does turn out to be underwhelming. A few weeks back when I watched Manchester by the Sea, I wasn't sure Michelle Williams had enough material to play to make it worth all these nominations, but this is even more surprising.