FULL MOON IN BLUE WATER
US, 1986, 96 minutes, Colour.
Gene Hackman, Teri Garr, Burgess Meredith, Elias Koteas.
Directed by Peter Masterson.
Full Moon in Blue Water is a pleasant American comedy with the serious touch - a touch inconsequential except for those who enjoy this kind of Americana with its Texas setting. However, it has a particularly good cast led by Gene Hackman, Terri Garr and Burgess Meredith.
The film has the atmosphere of a Texas coastal town, a diner in decline, tired lives - challenged by money deals, the planning of a bridge, environmental threats. Needless to say, everybody comes alive again and conflicts are resolved. Direction is by Peter Masterson who made such films as the successful Trip to Bountiful as well as the thriller Night Games.
1.Pleasant piece of Americana? A Texas slice of life?
2.The atmosphere of Texas, the coast, the town, the diner? Musical score and songs?
3.Credibility of the plot, the characters and types, their behaviour, conflicts and resolution?
4.Gene Hackman as Floyd, his screen presence, watching the films of his dead wife, his grief and obsession? The diner and its state of collapse? Friendship with Louise, relying on her, sexual relationship? Looking after The General? His friendship with Jimmy and looking after him? Brooding, Charlie and his visits and offering the money, the clash with Charlie? The claim for the taxes, his desperate moves? Wanting Jimmy to burn the diner down, clashing with Jimmy? Antagonism towards Louise, with Virgil, his insults to Virgil and sending her out? Jimmy and his return with the gun, the coming of the police? Louise as hostage? Peace - and Floyd sending Jimmy away? The discovery about the bridge, Virgil's information? The next day, Charlie's arrival, Floyd throwing him out? The General Surviving? Redecorating the diner, a future with Louise?
5.Jimmy and his time in the asylum, working around the diner, a genial type, friendship with The General, taking him in the chair and playing chicken on the pier? Refusing to burn down the diner? The General's accident, his fears, thinking he would be sent back to the asylum? Threatening with the gun, his being disarmed, Louise as hostage? Floyd letting him go - and his returning to help them in the diner?
6.Louise, friendship with Floyd, driving the school bus, life at home, her mother? Comparison with Floyd's wife? Helping him out, his harsh attitudes towards her, setting her up with Virgil and insulting her? The return to the diner, Jimmy's hostage, the reconciliation with Floyd and a future?
7.The General, Floyd's father-in-law, his view of life, part senile? In the chair, offering his observations, friendship with Jimmy, the rides on the pier, playing chicken, the accident? The credibility of his surviving?
8.Virgil, friendship with Louise, antagonism with Floyd, the set-up, the fights, going out with Louise?
9.Charlie and business deals, the property, the plan for the bridge, the scheme for back taxes, his boss, confronting Floyd, the double deals, the failure of the plan?
10.Small town life, Texas style? The business dealers and opening up commerce? Small people, small diners? Decline, coming to life again - and Floyd finally playing his fiddle?
