NZIFF 2025 Craccum Coverage | Blue Moon

Review by Hannah Judd 

Have you ever been stuck in a conversation with someone who narcissistically monologues at you while you try desperately to signal to your friends to help you escape the insufferable interaction? Director Richard Linklater depicts this feeling completely through his dialogue-heavy, comedic, and intimate film Blue Moon.

Blue Moon is a fabulous character study of a defeated artist who deals with watching his ex-creative partner's newfound success in the most insufferable way. Blue Moon expertly extracts from the viewer, Hawke’s character simultaneously brings out feelings of pity, sorrow, and intimacy through exploring the experience of a misplaced unrequited love and the inability to save a friendship that is degrading before your very eyes. 

Hawke’s character is excellently supported by beloved actors Margaret Qualley and Andrew Scott. Qualley embodies Lorenz Hart’s romantic interest “Elizabeth”. A striking twenty-year-old art student whom Hart is endlessly infatuated with, an effort which is moderately exasperating and minorly creepy at best. Andrew Scott impresses once more as he portrays “Richard Rodgers”, Lorenz Hart’s former creative partner of twenty years, who has now moved on to bigger and better endeavours, being showered in success over his new Broadway show, Oklahoma! Scott's character provides a superb exploration into attempting to salvage a friendship that no longer serves you, whilst trying to prioritise yourself without abandoning your long-term companion, a painful situation that at times hit a little close to home. 

Alongside its brilliant character studies, Blue Moon offers beautifully crafted cinematography enhanced by rich colours and expert interior lighting, creating the cosy setting of “Sardi’s Restaurant" in which a majority of the film takes place. The singular location provides a tangible facet, enhancing the claustrophobic feeling derived from Lorenz Hart’s overwhelming character.  

Blue Moon is truly a must-see masterpiece of tragedy overlaid with comedy, which had the entire theatre cackling.