Blue Moon 2025

Non spoiler thoughts (summary): I kept admiring the performance more than actually connecting with the character. The acting is fascinating to watch because of how deliberate and theatrical it feels, but at the same time it becomes exhausting, almost like listening to someone who loves hearing himself talk. By the end I respected the craft more than the emotional impact. ⚠️ Spoilers ahead. From here on, plot details are discussed. Read on if you’ve seen the film. If not, save this post and come back after. ⚠️ Ethan Hawke’s performance here reminds me of John Malkovich because of the way he delivers lines in a rhythm that feels half theatrical and half conversational. He talks like every sentence is carefully shaped yet casually thrown away, almost like he is performing a monologue to himself while others just happen to be present. There is also that intellectual arrogance mixed with insecurity, a man who sounds confident but is clearly unraveling underneath. Hawke disappears into the role. I knew something looked off at the start because I know Ethan Hawke is tall, yet he looked small here. After researching, I learned the director used forced perspective, trenches in the floor, and oversized furniture to reduce his stature to portray the 5'4 lyricist Lorenz Hart. That extra mile detail really worked for me. He is extremely talkative and passionate about whatever topic he jumps into, parang hindi nauubusan ng kwento. But I honestly could not care about what he was babbling. I found myself relating to his partner who just wanted him to fast forward and finish the point already. The best presence for me was Margaret Qualley. She is charismatic, elegant, and easy to listen to. I gravitated toward her story much more. She feels more mature here and gives me a confidence similar to Vanessa Kirby. I felt a bit hurt during his friend zone moment, but realistically speaking, he is old, drunk, and bisexual. I cannot imagine many twenty year old women wanting to seriously be with someone in that situation.