MOVIE - MOONLIGHT MILE - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$$ (OUT OF 10)
MOVIE - MOONLIGHT MILE - $$$$$ $$$$ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - JAKE GYLLENHAAL, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, SUSAN SARANDON, HOLLY HUNTER, ELLEN POMPEO & DABNEY COLEMAN.
A wedding is called off after the tragic death of the bride. Her fiancé moves in with her parents as they all attempt to cope with the grief of her sudden loss.
Moonlight Mile was inspired by director and screenwriter Brad Silberling's (City of Angels) tragic loss of his own finance, actress Rebecca Schaeffer, in 1989. The story does not retell the events surrounding Schaeffer's death, but rather examines the emotional conundrum, that a similar fictional loss has on loved ones left behind.
Moonlight Mile is a brutally honest examination of life after the death of a loved one. Infused with a combination of guilt, painful personal reflection and humour it accurately portrays the trials and tribulations of simultaneously honoring the memory of the deceased and getting on with one's life.
Jake Gyllenhaal (The Good Girl) plays the bereaved fiance. The movie opens with a scene of him walking on water as in the story of Jesus. Faced with the loss of his fiance, Gyllenhaal's character who otherwise lacks emotional courage, attempts to compensate for the loss, by playing the role of the good son-in-law. Feeling partly responsible for his fiancee's death he seeks to make amends by being all things to all people. This is, of course, an unsustainable and unworkable coping mechanism. As we watch Gyllenhaal's character struggle, to satisfy all the competing needs of those he interacts with, our sympathy for him slowly dissolves. Instead of seeing him as an earnest while savior we come to recognize and detest his emotional shallowness. But for a Hollywood ending, which is forgivable in this otherwise thought provoking examination of grief, Gyllenhaal's character would be universally despised.
The supporting cast is simply superb. Dustin Hoffman, in perhaps his best role since Rainman, eloquently portrays the pain of a father who has always thrown himself into his work to compensate for his inability to adequately express his emotions. Watching Hoffman, I was constantly brought back to his portrayal of Willy Loman, in the film "Death of a Salesman". Both characters are intrinsically related and both performances brilliant.
Susan Sarandon (The Banger Sisters) once again demonstrates her range as an actress. The biggest compliment I can give her is that, while watching her performance, I couldn't think of any other actress more suited for the role. Newcomer Ellen Pompeo's performance is an examination of how to express emotional suffering without being either over the top or needing dialogue to convey pain. Both Holly Hunter's portrayal of a hard nosed prosecutor and Dabney Coleman's reprisal of the seedy businessman ring true.
Moonlight Mile tackles the subject of tragic loss, with empathy, objectivity and rare honesty, without ever being over sentimental. If you are unmoved by Moonlight Mile you may need your own heart examined. If you have ever lost someone close to you, you owe it to yourself and their memory, to catch Moonlight Mile. It will be a cathartic experience for all concerned.
This film may will get overlooked at the Academy Awards but it shouldn't. I consider it one of the 10 Best Films of the year and very strongly recommend it.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-moonlight27f.html
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/MoonlightMile-1116142/
Official Website:
http://touchstonepictures.go.com/moonlightmile/flash.html
MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2002 LIST
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© Copyright
2003
David Schwartz.
Last update:
8/9/03; 11:05:16 PM.
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