<p class="ql-block"><b>Blue Moon</b> is not in the list of the Best Ten pictures nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, but in my opinion, it should have been, it is better than F1 or Bugonia (both are in the top 10). I can see myself watching Blue Moon in the years ahead, but not the other two. In fact, I sat through F1, but could not even finish Bugonia. </p><p class="ql-block">Blue Moon is not the blockbuster type. It has the effect of “It’s a Beautiful Life” on me: while I laugh when I watch it, but my heart is heavy afterwards. </p><p class="ql-block">Blue Moon is about the great Broadway lyricist, Lorenz Hart (played by <b>Ethan Hawk)</b>, who teamed up with the composer Richard Rogers, produced some of the greatest hits in the 1920’s through 1940’s. Unfortunately, his addiction to alcohol ruined the partnership with Rogers as well as his own life. He died at age 47 in 1943.</p> <p class="ql-block">The entire movie took place on March 31, 1943, the opening night for “Oklahoma!” - Rogers and Hammerstein’s first Broadway musical together. Hart attended the show, but before the curtain call, he left for the bar Sardi’s, where the crew of “Oklahoma!” would be celebrating. As much as he thought “Oklahoma!” was garbage (not to his taste), he also knew instinctively it would be the greatest hit for Rogers and Hammerstein. </p><p class="ql-block">From the moment he entered the bar, Hart was alive. He was chatty, witty, and funny. For a few minutes, I thought I was watching a Woody Allen production, monologues kept going on and on. The difference is Woody Allen babbled and mumbled a lot, while Hart, a wordsmith, was precise and crisp, every syllable had to be pronounced. </p><p class="ql-block">For a movie focused on unstopping dialogues (and a lot monologues), Ethan Hawk delivered a phenomenal job, for which he was nominated for best actor. I really hope he would win because he really deserves it. Seldom in a movie was the leading actor appearing in more than 90% of the frames, he was, and he played a person short in stature (not even 5 feet tall), but he carried the movie like a giant. </p>