Time: 100 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Offensive language & sexual references
Cast:
Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart
Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland
Bobby Cannavale as Eddie
Andrew Scott as Richard Rodgers
Director: Richard Linklater

My fourth film of the NZIFF was Blue Moon. The main thing I knew about it was that it is Richard Linklater’s latest movie, and starred Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley and Andrew Scott. Otherwise, I had no idea what it was about, and I was pleasantly surprised. 

The main thing to know about Blue Moon is that it takes place in a single location over an evening and consists of him talking with multiple people. I didn’t know anything about Lorenz Hart going in, and I’m glad to say that you don’t need to before watching the movie. It does a good job at conveying his history and character and I was invested throughout. With the structure and way the story is done, it has a hangout vibe and with the heavy dialogue focus it feels like a play. Thankfully, I was engaged in the conversations, and the witty dialogue was entertaining to watch. As funny as the movie is, there’s also a sense of emptiness, loneliness and melancholy felt throughout, which only increases as the movie progresses. The opening scene takes place a notable time after the events of the movie showing Lorenz’s final moments and that hangs over the entirety of the film. Blue Moon is just under 100 minutes long and that was the right length, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. 

Ethan Hawke is outstanding in the lead role of Lorenz Hart, and this is one of his very best performances, at least his best since First Reformed. He shares amazing chemistry with everyone and shows quite a range here, vulnerable, witty, chaotic, self destructive, bitter, and Hawke makes Lorenz feel very lived-in. Margaret Qualley and Andrew Scott are fantastic, and Bobby Cannavale is also really good. 

Richard Linklater’s direction is solid, not showy but serves the writing and actors well, especially considering the heavy dialogue. It is initially jarring seeing Ethan Hawke shrunk down with CGI especially whenever placed alongside other actors, but you get used to it after a while. Blue Moon is also accompanied by soft piano jazz, which fits the atmosphere. 

Blue Moon is a witty, melancholic, dialogue focussed character study with incredible performances, especially from Ethan Hawke.