Moonstruck (1987) – Loretta (Cher) finds herself in a bind when she falls in love with the brother (Nicholas Cage) of the man she has agreed to marry (Danny Aiello).
Director – Norman Jewison Starring – Cher, Nicholas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia
Every once in a while I come across a movie and think “I forgot how much I love this one!”. That is “Moonstruck” in every way. This is an actor’s movie because it’s all about the characters. Everything you need to know about the plot is in the summary above. It’s a simple set piece. Lorretta is a 37-year-old widow who doesn’t think she’ll ever find “love” again. So she is going to settle for solid, but dull Johnny (Aiello). She meets with his brother, Ronny (Cage), and they discover the passion they both thought they had lost.
And what this amazing cast does with that well-worn storyline is nothing short of brilliant. The movie picked up six Oscar nominations and won three (Cher, Dukakis, and Best Writing). It’s a joy to watch as a movie lover and even more as someone with roots in acting. The timing, the intensity, the familial interplay, all of it is brilliant.
This another movie that I feel like I could go on and on about. Let’s leave it at this. If there’s an off moment in this movie, I’ve never noticed it. Every scene is beautifully crafted by the director, the writer, and the actors. Much the way that Loretta feels like her life is spinning out of control, the audience is swept along in the romantic comedy as well.
Nope, I have to pay homage to one last piece of this movie. As brilliant as all the rest is, the final scene is a jewel beyond measure. Jewison called it the hardest scene he has ever had to direct. He rehearsed the cast first till they had the scene perfect and only then decided where to place the cameras. It plays on the intimate knowledge that the family members have for one another as so much of what they thought was real comes crashing down around their ears. Only to see something new and wonderful arise from the debris.
God, I love this movie!
Why You Will Like It – Brilliant cast having the times of their lives with incredible characters.
Rating – ***** Must See
Stories Are My Life 
Leave a comment