I watched this over the weekend and didn't log it immediately because I just couldn't put into words my feelings on it. It's been days. I still can't quite figure out how to express how much I loved this movie. 

In short: it was a masterpiece. 

I could talk about the discussions of masculinity and homophobia and specifically what that looks like for black men. I could go on at length about the tragic and ultimately impotent romance (if you can even call it that) between Chiron and Kevin, or the twisted poetry of Chirons found father figure Juan juxtaposed with the failure of his own mother. The greater social implications of that. How all of these things are handled beautifully and delicately in a way that leaves no real victors. 

Or even the performances. Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali and Trevante Rhodes gave, for me, award worthy performances. Particularly Naomie who made Paula, Chirons crackhead mother...not exactly sympathetic, but human in a way that is not often portrayed. Same for Mahershala who in a scene where a young Chiron questions him about his drug dealing profession and then about his mothers drug habit watches the boy put those pieces together...just...heartbroken. 

There's more. I could go on forever. The beautiful oversaturated washed out sticky heat of Miami that practically oozed off the screen in every shot. The  haunting beautiful score accompanied  by a pitch perfect soundtrack. The list goes on. But suffice to say this is, in my personal opinion, the best film of the year thus far. 

ALSO WHEN CHIRON HIT THAT LITTLE ASSHOLE WITH THE CHAIR??? HE DID THAT!!!!!