Confession: I've never seen this iconic film. A fun watch perhaps. Sounds a little crazy. I'll take Nick Cage's weird character choices (even when they fail) over any play-it-safe actors.
In fact I did. It came out around the same time that he did “Moonstruck” - and yes weird acting there too! Like this is who she wants to be with?!?! Kathleen Turner, Ms. “body heat” ??
That's so fun. I've been enjoying diving into older films too. Haven't hit up Tarantino yet but my husband is enjoying his book on audio "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," which is narrated by Jennifer Jason Leigh!
Food for thought: If the films aren't quite as old as me though, does this mean I'm older too?
Moonstruck is one of our go-to “record album” movies that we periodically watch to chill out to because we just experientially enjoy it. The only real “cringe” part for me is when she is sitting by the fireplace with her new dress and a glass of wine and the movie briefly devolves into a cheesy 80s music video with the overbearing saxophone that was mandatory back then.
And the older I get, the more Nic Cage’s soliloquy about human imperfection and the chaotic nature of life and love rings true. The storybooks ARE bullshit!
Thx for sharing. Gotta ask how many times have you seen it? Sounds like it does just keep on getting better? The now I need to go back and revisit this scene especially if there’s some obnoxious mood setting sax (I just rewatched “St. Elmo’s Fire” so I feel this pain hardcore)
There was one Cage soliloquy I got behind and this was the one with the full moon intact after their date where he’s convincing her to stay over. For such a bizarre film it has some good moments and impactful lines
Too many times to count. It really is like an album from our youth that we still enjoy listening to. There is definitely a personal nostalgia to our enjoyment, but I think the movie still holds up well as a romantic comedy. I see it as a late 80s Philadelphia Story. The plot holes and the cringy parts are part of its charm.
Thank you for another fab review and “the memories” of watching this film and thinking “WTF…?” Or whatever the equivalent was back in the 80’s. And thanks for this question:
Which films have you rewatched and subsequently don’t pass muster but you remembered being so good back in the day?
For me: “Brazil”. Except for Robert De Niro. Awesome. Always
Thank you. Just ordered this from the library to revisit. Nic Cage is one of those "what?" then "wow" actors. He can be so kooky then self-mocking and then, after watching "Leaving Las Vegas" , leaves the audience speechless at the portrayal of such a brilliantly flawed character.
Btw, "Mayor of Kingstown" DVD fatally flawed in episode 2 (all-too-common reality of library DVDs 🙄), so will try again.
I’m sorry. I’m just cracking up 😂 slightly on the episode 2 fail. That sucks and I know that pain. All of my Netflix foreign film dvds from back in the day… always something messed up.
Nic Cage is totally kooky. It’s like he’s doing method acting on himself. “Leaving Las Vegas” has my one of my favorite 80s actresses too! Elizabeth Shue
I’m going to have to revisit this film too! I teach an online film class for a college, and it’s on the approved list of films that students can write their papers on. In the five years that I’ve taught this class, I think I’ve only had 2-3 students write about it.
I love Mermaids! Huge fan of Winona Ryder.
I don’t think Cage’s acting has improved, but he’s still great to look at! LOL
Ok I’m so intrigued. Do you have a link to your online film class? That’s so cool. Thx for sharing Kristin!
Also, I beg to differ on Cage still being great to look (wah wah) at but his affecting performances in “Adaptation,” “Dream Scenario,” and “The Weather Man,” coupled with his ability to poke fun at himself as seen in “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” make him a very skilled and grounded actor in my opinion. He’s learned!! Also Cher insisted on him for the part in “Moonstruck” or threatened to walk… (per rumors)
Hahahaha! OK, yes, his acting has improved over the years - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is on my list to watch - but yes he was so great in Adaptation and The Weather Man.
It’s all up to the students- they pick a film from the approved list and use it for their weekly discussions. The class is designed by the department head (and another lead) - so I have no part in that. If a student wants to use a film not on the list, they can ask me for approval.
They learn about lighting, sound, editing, cinematography, genre, auteur theory, and other elements of analyzing film. So, as an example, the focus for Week 2 is genre and lighting. They use their film to discuss the use of lighting - and think about what type of lighting is typical for that genre and whether their film conforms to that.
That’s so fun! Coincidentally I pitched a film club idea to the Adult Ed learning in a nearby town for the Fall. I taught a film class there last Fall and an online publishing course in the Winter.
That’s awesome!! I would love to design a film class or film club!
When I first started teaching the course, the list of films was limited to any film that had won an Oscar (for best picture). But, it was amazing how many students would choose an animated film - which was challenging to analyze the elements of film we look at… so, they revamped the course a bit (added a cultural component and added films that represented a more diverse group of films), revised and expanded the list. Then a couple of years ago they were revamping the course and asked for ideas from people - I submitted a whole bunch LOL but, sadly they didn’t use any of them.
For me Moonstruck is a perfect representation of the over-the-top 80s and one of my favorite rom-coms. You can't just have a moon, it has to be an enormous moon that's impossible to ignore. You have to have an old man with a million dogs, not just one. A leading man who's lost his hand. Same year as Lethal Weapon and Fatal Attraction. Even the names of movies are completely over the top!
You're right that the character actors, especially the older ones, pretty much steal the show from the stars and they are so delicious to watch. Yes, have to agree that Olympia Dukakis alone is worth the price of admission. Having Italian-American friends at that time who were quite dramatic in the way they spoke and behaved, the characters even with their overacting didn't go too far for me.
I also love Mermaids, and tend to enjoy watching Cher on TV and in movies and on talk shows. She's one of a kind. Enjoy watching Winona Ryder as well (fan of Stranger Things here).
Your comment is a warm hug 🤗 thank you for sharing it. You are so right about the 80s signature over the top quality of films. The moon size is insane and the elder Castorini with all the dogs makes you wonder if people like him still exist in 2024 walking around Italian American enclaves of NYC. I meant what I said about being appreciative about depictions of ethnic Italians in America who aren’t mobsters!! It’s a win.
This is a favorite movie in our household, and I am here for the spicy discourse about the plot holes! 🔥 I might need to revisit this movie in a pre-fall double feature with Mermaids (another favorite!).
Confession: I've never seen this iconic film. A fun watch perhaps. Sounds a little crazy. I'll take Nick Cage's weird character choices (even when they fail) over any play-it-safe actors.
Confession 2: I’m on a Nick Cage marathon. Just watched “City of Angels” the 90s film that was based on “Wings of Desire” where he plays an Angel
Have you rewatched “Peggy Sue Got Married” yet? He’s great and weird in that too!
In fact I did. It came out around the same time that he did “Moonstruck” - and yes weird acting there too! Like this is who she wants to be with?!?! Kathleen Turner, Ms. “body heat” ??
We’ve been watching older movies with our son, who loves storytelling and cinema. Our most recent rewatch was Pulp Fiction!
That's so fun. I've been enjoying diving into older films too. Haven't hit up Tarantino yet but my husband is enjoying his book on audio "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," which is narrated by Jennifer Jason Leigh!
Food for thought: If the films aren't quite as old as me though, does this mean I'm older too?
Oof...
Moonstruck is one of our go-to “record album” movies that we periodically watch to chill out to because we just experientially enjoy it. The only real “cringe” part for me is when she is sitting by the fireplace with her new dress and a glass of wine and the movie briefly devolves into a cheesy 80s music video with the overbearing saxophone that was mandatory back then.
And the older I get, the more Nic Cage’s soliloquy about human imperfection and the chaotic nature of life and love rings true. The storybooks ARE bullshit!
Thx for sharing. Gotta ask how many times have you seen it? Sounds like it does just keep on getting better? The now I need to go back and revisit this scene especially if there’s some obnoxious mood setting sax (I just rewatched “St. Elmo’s Fire” so I feel this pain hardcore)
There was one Cage soliloquy I got behind and this was the one with the full moon intact after their date where he’s convincing her to stay over. For such a bizarre film it has some good moments and impactful lines
Too many times to count. It really is like an album from our youth that we still enjoy listening to. There is definitely a personal nostalgia to our enjoyment, but I think the movie still holds up well as a romantic comedy. I see it as a late 80s Philadelphia Story. The plot holes and the cringy parts are part of its charm.
Thank you for another fab review and “the memories” of watching this film and thinking “WTF…?” Or whatever the equivalent was back in the 80’s. And thanks for this question:
Which films have you rewatched and subsequently don’t pass muster but you remembered being so good back in the day?
For me: “Brazil”. Except for Robert De Niro. Awesome. Always
Thank you. Just ordered this from the library to revisit. Nic Cage is one of those "what?" then "wow" actors. He can be so kooky then self-mocking and then, after watching "Leaving Las Vegas" , leaves the audience speechless at the portrayal of such a brilliantly flawed character.
Btw, "Mayor of Kingstown" DVD fatally flawed in episode 2 (all-too-common reality of library DVDs 🙄), so will try again.
I’m sorry. I’m just cracking up 😂 slightly on the episode 2 fail. That sucks and I know that pain. All of my Netflix foreign film dvds from back in the day… always something messed up.
Nic Cage is totally kooky. It’s like he’s doing method acting on himself. “Leaving Las Vegas” has my one of my favorite 80s actresses too! Elizabeth Shue
Agreed. She is great in that movie.
I’m going to have to revisit this film too! I teach an online film class for a college, and it’s on the approved list of films that students can write their papers on. In the five years that I’ve taught this class, I think I’ve only had 2-3 students write about it.
I love Mermaids! Huge fan of Winona Ryder.
I don’t think Cage’s acting has improved, but he’s still great to look at! LOL
Ok I’m so intrigued. Do you have a link to your online film class? That’s so cool. Thx for sharing Kristin!
Also, I beg to differ on Cage still being great to look (wah wah) at but his affecting performances in “Adaptation,” “Dream Scenario,” and “The Weather Man,” coupled with his ability to poke fun at himself as seen in “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” make him a very skilled and grounded actor in my opinion. He’s learned!! Also Cher insisted on him for the part in “Moonstruck” or threatened to walk… (per rumors)
Hahahaha! OK, yes, his acting has improved over the years - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is on my list to watch - but yes he was so great in Adaptation and The Weather Man.
Here’s a link to the description of the class: https://www.uagc.edu/blog/welcome-eng225-introduction-film
What films have you discussed in clsss?
It’s all up to the students- they pick a film from the approved list and use it for their weekly discussions. The class is designed by the department head (and another lead) - so I have no part in that. If a student wants to use a film not on the list, they can ask me for approval.
They learn about lighting, sound, editing, cinematography, genre, auteur theory, and other elements of analyzing film. So, as an example, the focus for Week 2 is genre and lighting. They use their film to discuss the use of lighting - and think about what type of lighting is typical for that genre and whether their film conforms to that.
That’s so fun! Coincidentally I pitched a film club idea to the Adult Ed learning in a nearby town for the Fall. I taught a film class there last Fall and an online publishing course in the Winter.
That’s awesome!! I would love to design a film class or film club!
When I first started teaching the course, the list of films was limited to any film that had won an Oscar (for best picture). But, it was amazing how many students would choose an animated film - which was challenging to analyze the elements of film we look at… so, they revamped the course a bit (added a cultural component and added films that represented a more diverse group of films), revised and expanded the list. Then a couple of years ago they were revamping the course and asked for ideas from people - I submitted a whole bunch LOL but, sadly they didn’t use any of them.
For me Moonstruck is a perfect representation of the over-the-top 80s and one of my favorite rom-coms. You can't just have a moon, it has to be an enormous moon that's impossible to ignore. You have to have an old man with a million dogs, not just one. A leading man who's lost his hand. Same year as Lethal Weapon and Fatal Attraction. Even the names of movies are completely over the top!
You're right that the character actors, especially the older ones, pretty much steal the show from the stars and they are so delicious to watch. Yes, have to agree that Olympia Dukakis alone is worth the price of admission. Having Italian-American friends at that time who were quite dramatic in the way they spoke and behaved, the characters even with their overacting didn't go too far for me.
I also love Mermaids, and tend to enjoy watching Cher on TV and in movies and on talk shows. She's one of a kind. Enjoy watching Winona Ryder as well (fan of Stranger Things here).
Ellen
Your comment is a warm hug 🤗 thank you for sharing it. You are so right about the 80s signature over the top quality of films. The moon size is insane and the elder Castorini with all the dogs makes you wonder if people like him still exist in 2024 walking around Italian American enclaves of NYC. I meant what I said about being appreciative about depictions of ethnic Italians in America who aren’t mobsters!! It’s a win.
This is a favorite movie in our household, and I am here for the spicy discourse about the plot holes! 🔥 I might need to revisit this movie in a pre-fall double feature with Mermaids (another favorite!).
Thanks Maria I welcome the discourse. Watch it again. I need to revisit “Mermaids”!