The Man in the Moon (1991) movie Review
After watching this movie, I took a moment to soak in the complete journey of its story. They nailed it – navigating through the tricky narrative without a misstep, especially when it could have all gone south at the end. "The Man in the Moon" is more than just a delightful movie; it's a triumph of capturing the right mood and tone. It's like experiencing a well-crafted poem.
The story unfolds on a farm near a small town during the 1950s. Two teenage girls are growing up with strict yet loving parents. Dani, the 14-year-old, is entering the uncertainties of young womanhood. Her older sister Maureen, around 17, is her confidante. On warm summer nights, they share heart-to-heart talks on the screened-in porch. Dani can't help but feel she'll never match up to her sister's beauty and popularity – a common sentiment among younger siblings.
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Things take a turn when a widow and her son, Court, move in next door. Court, also 17, encounters Dani at the swimming hole. They start with a fight but quickly become friends. Dani develops a massive crush on Court, and for a brief moment, it seems like he might feel the same. Seeking guidance, Dani turns to Maureen for kissing lessons, practicing on her hand. When Court eventually kisses her, Dani admits it's her first kiss, and she deems it "perfect."
The movie hits a perfect note, especially when she asks him, "I want to know what your hopes are." It's not just a teenage romance flick; it dives into idealism, exploring how we idealize the things and people we love, while also touching on the meaning of life – a topic teenagers debate a lot, filled with hope and doubt, unlike adults who talk about it less, even when they could use it.
The handling of scenes between Dani and Court reflects the entire movie. It takes familiar material and breathes new life into it. Maybe it's the acting – Reese Witherspoon as Dani and Jason London as Court capture every nuance perfectly. Perhaps it's Robert Mulligan's direction, known for another great film about a young girl, "To Kill a Mockingbird." Or maybe it's because everyone involved knew that the script by Jenny Wingfield wouldn't take the easy way out, avoiding artificial endings or false sentiment.
The "perfect" kiss is not without complications. The girls' mother is in the final weeks of pregnancy, the older sister had a terrible date, and their father is strict out of love. Naturally, when Court notices the older sister, he forgets about the kid sister. Life hurts directly, especially when we're young.
Then comes a plot twist that I won't spoil. It hits unexpectedly, and the film's powerful conclusion explores deep hurt, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the impossibility of sharing profound feelings.
"The Man in the Moon" feels like a masterful short story – language and mood perfection. Every word serves a purpose. It flows seamlessly, making you forget you're watching a typical film. Performances are spot-on; Tess Harper and Sam Waterston aren't mere plot devices but believable parents. Moments like Waterston hugging his youngest or Harper intuiting something about her older daughter are heartbreakingly touching. Gail Strickland, as the boy's mother, delivers difficult yet true moments.
Then there are the two sisters, Reese Witherspoon and Emily Warfield. Like any pair of close-aged sisters, they share almost all their secrets. However, the secrets they can't bring themselves to share cut deep. Their close moments discussing boys and the challenges of growing up have a unique intimacy. Yet, the silences and pained body language in later scenes hint at a betrayed intimacy, adding an even more profound layer. A scene where Court joins them for dinner becomes a poignant example. His exclusive attention to Maureen, practically ignoring Dani, reflects the heartless ways teenagers often navigate matters of the heart.
Director Robert Mulligan, known for films like "Inside Daisy Clover" and "Summer of '42," has a varied filmography exploring the intensity of young love. Works like "Same Time, Next Year" and "Clara’s Heart" touch on how time and age influence romance. While his body of work may be inconsistent, Mulligan has consistently been a serious and sincere artist throughout his career.
Yet, nothing in his portfolio compares to the purity and perfection of "The Man in the Moon." As the film gracefully approached its conclusion without faltering, I couldn't help but wonder if Mulligan could maintain the poetic, bittersweet tone and avoid the sentimentalism and cheap emotion that might have detracted from the story's essence. The question lingered: would he preserve the integrity of this material? The answer, resoundingly, is yes – he does.