So my love of movies was instilled at me at a very young age. Of course it is impossible to recall precise details, but I remember that going to our local video shop was an affair, everyone was going to choose a video to watch (generally for us it was something Disney), there would be take aways, popcorn and movie night would commence in the lounge, lights dimmed. Fond memories... one of which is a distinct memory of the poster for moonstruck, the happy lady in the poster jumping ecstatically, silhouetted against the moon, and seeing the trailer on the videos we used to get, the movie is one of those that defined an era, just by its sheer pervasiveness.
It would take me years to watch the movie, and this is the first time I have made it through it...
The story is centred around an American Italian family in Brooklyn, primarily the daughter of the family, 37 year old plain widow Loretta Castorini (Cher), she has just accepted a proposal to marry from her boyfriend Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), who has left to Italy as his mother is dieing. Before he leaves he asks Loretta to contact his estranged brother Ronny Cammareri (Nicholas Cage), who he has bad blood with and invite him to the wedding. Meanwhile, Loretta's mother Rose (Olympia Dukakis) is struggling with her suspicions that Loretta's father Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) is cheating on her. Bur, on one magical night, with full moon in the sky and love in the air, the lives of this family are about to change...
I mentioned earlier that this is the first time I have made it through this movie, and the reason is quite simple, a painfully nails on board reminiscent performance by Nicholas Cage, even this time around I allowed my mind to wonder during Cage screen time, as it for me was just to painful to watch...
That's okay, because I can look past that (and totally accept that some people like Chalk Board acting), and there is so much more in this movie to enjoy than Cage... What you do have are Academy Award winning performances by two great actresses, Cher and Olympia Dukakis.
Cher would go on to win her Oscar for her performance in a movie and role she initially did not want to take, as she had just completed back to back movies. She was never the first choice for the role, as the character is a very muted one, but she stepped up to the plate, minimizing her persona for the role and delivering a performance for which she was highly praised and honoured. She really is deserving, when you look at the character and you look at the persona of the star, there is some great acting going on, as you forget that this is one of the greatest stars of the era and certainly, arguably of all time. Winning the award was literally the first time that her peers had offered her acknowledgement in the form of accolades, and when you consider the years of mutation she has provided, Moonstruck was the perfect opportunity to not only honour this single performance, but a career in general (it's not the easiest writing this, because I am not necessarily a Cher fan, although the personage is intriguing and particularly beautiful at this stage and time of her career). Olympia Dukakis is also excellent in her Oscar winning role of the matriarch dealing with a daughter in the throws of messiness and a husband she loves but cannot trust.
I'm South African Greek, and had an Italian step-father-of-sorts, so I totally related to the loud, family oriented family who are in each others business, literally and figuratively, animatedly yelling, and arguing, and loving, and enjoying each other all at the same time while at the dinner table (and Dukakis is Greek like me) - awesome flashbacks of the loud houses I grew up in. While it is a Romantic Comedy, this movie is highly entertaining and captures the essence of immigrant morphed yet maintained Mediterranean fervour. On a serious note while being a totally playful work it also speaks to a wider feeling of romanticism and yearning that has since also been captured in similar projects like My Big Fat Greek wedding - even if your family is not exactly like the families that are portrayed on these screens, there is something universal about them that has proven to be a great recipe to watch and which transcends cultural differences, if your family are like these screen creations, it's great to know that the insanity is not only in your head :).
Moonstruck was a commercial and critical success, and has been and remains on many a Best Of list - it is also a highly contentiously criticized for being over appreciated, piece of work. Love it or hate it, and this movie offers a lot to love and hate, you cannot ignore it's impact and validity for viewing if you consider yourself to be a movie buff, even in the simplest of terms. My suggestion, watch and enjoy.
So Moonstruck would be nominated in five of the categories being watched for this blog, Best Picture, Director, Actress (won), Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress (won) - It missed out on a Best Actor nod, which is okay as that would have gone to Cage (who would not have been deserving, although Leaving Las Vegas is still ahead of this blog!). It is the 2nd movie watched since blog commencement from the 60th Academy Awards and the 42nd over all.
nuff said...
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