MOONSTRUCK
US, 1987, 102 minutes, Colour.
Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia, John Mahoney, Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
Directed by Norman Jewison.
Moonstruck is a souffle (or its Italian- American equivalent) of a movie. Light and charming, it offers Cher as a New York widow in an engaging, Oscar-nominated performance along with a group of character actors who bring to life an Italian family, full of hopes, disappointments and a barrelful of quirks. Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis were also Oscar-nominated. Cher and Olympia Dukakis won Golden Globe awards for their performances. There is a glow in the photography that suggests eccentric magic, but it's an old-fashioned story that should delight audiences tired of violence.
The film was directed by Norman Jewison who has directed a wide range of films from the '60s including The Thomas Crown Affair, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rollerball, Agnes of God, The Soldier's Story. The film was nominated for Oscars, including Best Film, Director, Original Screenplay - however, it is not that kind of film. Rather, it is a film of moonglow.
1. A pleasant and charming film? of the '80s? The Oscar nominations?
2. A New York story, the city, the Italian ambience, Dean Martin singing That's Amore, Vikki Carr singing 'It Must Be Him'?
3. The opening and the music of La Boheme, the music throughout the film, the preparation of the production, Ronnie and Loretta going to the opera? The f11m as operatic and moonstruck?
4. The witty screenplay, characters, situations, audience sympathies?
5. Loretta's story: her work, the money, the opening in the funeral parlour? Auntie Rita and Ray and banking their money? The dinner, the restaurant, the encounter with Johnny, the proposal - and his knees? Her bossing him about? Coming home and meeting her father, telling him, her mother? Their sardonic responses? Her past marriage, love, bad luck? Seeing Johnny off and the woman cursing the plane - but curses don't work? At home, Johnny ringing with news about his mother in Sicily? His asking her to visit Ronnie - the visit, the bakery, Ronnie's angry speech, going home with him, preparing a meal for him, the sexual liaison, her going to confession, seeing her mother? Taking the money from banking, deciding to get her hair changed, the dress, at home, getting ready to go out, the promise to go to the opera, her enjoying it, seeing Iona and her father, confronting her father? Her going home with Ronnie, the drink, the decision to stay with him? Arriving home, Johnny's arrival, her mother, the resolution to tell the truth? The irony of Johnny's backing out? Ronnie's proposal? Middle age, a woman's story, love - and the final portrait at the end? Cher's performance?
6. Johnny as a soft Italian, Sicilian, infatuated with Loretta, the proposal, his arrangements in the restaurant, his attachment to his mother, flying home, the tantrums as she was dying, the humour of his return and the tape, his mother's recovery, the build-up to the crisis and his breaking off the engagement?
7. Ronnie and his anger with his brother after five years, the loss of his hand? The bakery, his speech, food, kiss, the sexual encounter, the promise to go to the opera, his plea for her to come home with him, coming to visit, the proposal and reconciliation?
8. The father and his work as a plumber, making money, his worrying about death and not being able to sleep, his advising his daughter? The plumbing instructions and her telling these to Mona? His gifts to her? Going to the opera? His return home, his wife telling him to break off the affair7 The final toast and his love for his wife? The Italian father?
9. The mother and her experience, wisdom, love of Loretta, going to church, knowing about the affair? The decision to go out, her seeing Perry and the student throwing the glass at him? The shared meal, talking, walking home - and being seen by grandfather? Her resolve, telling her husband to break off the affair?
10. The aunt and uncle, their visits, the happy Italian family, their shock, their concern?
11. The old man, his place in the house, all the dogs, going for walks, visiting the cemetery with his friends, seeing his daughter-in-law with the man in the street? His presence at the end?
12. Perry, the girls throwing water at him? The mother and her question about why men chase girls? The answer concerning death? The pleasant meal, the attraction, their walking home together, the leaving? The bond between the two?
13. A file of pleasant characters and situations? Italians in New York? The human comedy?
