The Man in the Moon (1991) User Reviews

Coming of Age Classic

[HotToastyRag · 6/10 · 24 October 2017]

If there's any director in Hollywood who deserves a crown for conquering the coming-of-age genre, it's Robert Mulligan, director of To Kill a Mockingbird and Summer of '42. His last film was The Man in the Moon, one of the most revered modern coming-of-age films. It takes place in 1957, during the summer a teenaged Reese Witherspoon's life changes forever.

In Reese's first movie, she's a tomboy, but she's still adorable in her transition out of adolescence, and as she's done in almost every other film since, she melts the hearts of the audience. She stomps around in overalls and smacks her gum as if it never occurred to her to care about her appearance, but she's just as cute in those scenes as she is when she finally dolls up and tries to act like a regular teenage girl.

Fourteen-year-old Reese is very close to her older sister, Emily Warfield, but clashes at times with her parents, Sam Waterston and Tess Harper, who don't seem to understand her difficult age. When a new family moves in next door, complete with three teenage boys, everything changes. Reese gets to know one of the boys, Jason London, but as time passes, her feelings grow into more than just friendship.

There's a lot more to the plot, but I'd rather not spoil anything. Needless to say, there are all the classic elements to a poignant coming-of-age story, including domestic troubles, love triangles, self-discovery, tragedy, and the bonds of family. Just as in classics like My Girl, you're going to need your Kleenexes during this one. It doesn't matter whether you have issues with your dad, mom, sister, or remember a bittersweet time before you grew up, there are several scenes that will inspire tears. Reese has great chemistry with her on screen family, and I guarantee the parents in the audience will identify with Sam Waterston's protectiveness and wisdom.

This one isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're in the mood for a good cry this weekend, or if you're craving a nostalgia movie with lots of Elvis Presley songs, rent The Man in the Moon.

Kiddy Warning: I'd probably let my kids watch this one, but I just wanted to warn you, because everyone has different tastes, that there are some upsetting scenes and violence involving children.

Touching drama about first love.

[michaelRokeefe · 8/10 · 7 May 2000]

Reese Witherspoon plays Dani, a young country girl that falls madly in love with the new 17 year old neighbor, Court, played by Jason London. Court tries his best to make Dani realize that the difference in their ages would make a love relationship improbable. Soon the nubile charm of Dani starts winning over Court's will. Next enters the meeting of Dani's older sister, played by Emily Warfield, and the beginning of a short lived love/jealousy problem.

Tess Harper and Sam Waterston round out the cast. This is a fresh, free spirited; but heartbreaking drama that touches down deep. Feel free to cry.

Little Big Movie

[marcslope · 8/10 · 28 February 2001]

It's a generic coming-of-age story -- think "The Member of the Wedding," "Summer of '42," "A Summer Place," even "Little Women" -- and there are moments where Mulligan might have omitted the soupy music, not used slow-motion, or played down the golden-lit prettiness of the setting. Otherwise, it's done with rare emotional perfect-pitch. Nothing's forced, every line has feeling, and the pacing is just right. Even the below-A-list casting helps: Bigger movie stars with more recognizable personalities might have overwhelmed the material. In particular, Witherspoon is excellent: Her line readings are fresh and original, and her body language is just right for a gawky, hoydenish 14-year-old on the eve of womanhood. Waterston is also very fine, even if he has to spend much of the movie climbing in and out of the family truck.

One senses that the film's makers were aware of its unpromising commercial prospects -- no big stars, no big car crashes, no special effects -- and consciously decided to make the best possible movie, box office be damned. It's intimate and honest, and it sticks to the ribs. If you find yourself misting up at the end, you don't have to feel you've been duped.

A Worthwhile Watch For Those Who Enjoy Dramatic, Emotional Cinema

[zkonedog · 7/10 · 26 July 2017]

"The Man In The Moon" is one of those films that I'd seen bits and parts of on TV all the time, but never quite seen all the way start-to-finish. As a big fan of Reese Whitherspoon, I finally decided to give it a rent and watch it properly. What I found is that despite the fact that I'm not nearly the target audience for this type of picture (I'm a 30-year old male), anyone who enjoys emotional films (and isn't that kind of the point of film?) will find something to relate to in this one.

For a basic plot summary, "Man in the Moon" focuses on 14-year old Dani (Whiterspoon) entering her adolescence in 1950s farm country. Her parents, Matthew (Sam Waterston) & Abigail (Tess Harper), are as salt-of-the-earth as they come, while Dani also looks up to older sister Maureen (Emily Warfield). One summer, Dani discovers that an "older boy" (older teenaged) has moved in down the way, and Court (Jason London) becomes the object of her burgeoning sexuality and adolescence in general. Does Court really like her, or is he just stringing her along? Feelings (especially those of the "first" variety) are complicated, and this is what Dani must discover as life continues to roll on despite her desire to have everything work out perfectly.

Like I said, it is easy to classify "Man In The Moon" as a "chick flick", and I can absolutely see why that is. The "gist" of the film is about a teenaged girl dealing with her feelings; the only thing separating it from hundreds of other more contemporary films just like it being the period setting.

However, I am the type of person who likes to try and look past such labels and find good films no matter what their reputation may say. I'm glad I did in this case, as "Man In The Moon" is really a well-made film in many aspects. Though I've never personally experienced the angst of teenage girl adolescence, I did go through an adolescence of my own and have younger sisters that somewhat help me relate. I think the point here is that this isn't a film that "only girls/women can enjoy".

Generally speaking, the cast of this film is solid, but it is truly Whitherspoon's performance that vaults into "cult classic" territory. In this her introductory film performance at the age of 14, Reese shows exactly why she would go on to have an acclaimed, Oscar-winning career. Even in a film that can, admittedly, get a bit cheesy and sappy at times, Reese is always the magnet that your attention will be drawn to. I'd be hard pressed to name another performance this good from someone this young (she is in practically every scene!).

Thus, despite not really having the scope or production value to be an "all-time classic" piece of cinema, "Man In The Moon" will tug at your heartstrings for its portrayal of those delicate, confusing, and incredibly exciting teenage years. It will hit closest to home with females, I would imagine, but I'm proof that all ages can enjoy a film that is obviously made with such care and features such mesmerizing acting from the lead player.

Very Good

[hmpulham · 9/10 · 8 February 2003]

I doubt I would have ever rented the film, it looked too much like just a teenage love story. However, a friend who's taste I respect, recommended it. I thought the film was excellent. "The Man in The Moon" is one of those rare movies that gets it right. A warm and tender story of a family, and growing up, without being maudlin. It was the first time I'd seen Reese Witherspoon, and she was indeed impressive. You knew she had something special about her, like seeing a very young Elizabeth Taylor, in an old MGM movie. This film is idealized, yet honest. Many of us grow up with both joys and some pain, and there is an unexpected twist, that when it hits -- it hits hard.

Good Beginning, terrible ending.

[PurplePanther · 6/10 · 25 July 2007]

This movie started out great, but the ending completely ruined it for me. It wasn't that I would have liked for Dani and Court to end up together, because I realize that is unrealistic, but the fact that they chose to throw the two of them into a romantic triangle with Dani's older sister, have Court completely and inexplicably shun Danielle, and have Court and Maureen claim to love each other after only TWO DAYS of knowing each other completely, and I mean, COMPLETELY ruined this movie. You can guess that it was Court's confusion over being interested in someone so young as Dani despite his resistance was the reason for his odd and annoying behavior towards Dani after he'd met her sister, but that is never explained. Not even in a way where you can know something for sure without it being spoken. It was frustrating and obnoxious. I also feel like his death was a complete cop out. The minute Dani finds out that Court was with her sister, he is killed my a tractor (which is oddly hilarious and makes for good poetic justice, in my opinion), and the two are never able to confront the relationship between them and how it had been tarnished. So much felt unfinished with this movie and not in a "well, that's life" sort of way, it was more of a "wait, huh, what just happened???" kind of way. I also hated the how Maureen's "grief" over the boy she had known and loved for two days was made out to be more important and significant that Dani's. It literally made no sense to me. This movie had great potential in the beginning, but the way it ended just sucked to me. Overall, I didn't feel like it was a complete waste of time, but it did disappoint me greatly. 6/10.

A Beautiful, Heartbreaking Film

[imadj · 10/10 · 5 October 2003]

"The Man in the Moon" is a beautifully realistic look at life through the eyes of an adolescent. Director Robert Mulligan magically re-creates screenwriter Jenny Wingfield's autobiography of her childhood with gorgeous cinematography and a haunting, lyrical musical score. This film hits home as one of the most powerful and emotionally affecting films in recent times.

This film is incredible, all the acting first rate, especially Sam Waterston and an astonishing performance by Reese Witherspoon in her film debut. You will feel every emotion as this life changing summer in 1957 on the Trant family farm comes to a conclusion.

"The Man in the Moon" was a limited release in 1991, and you will love the fact that most of you're family and friends will probably have never heard of it. Buy this dvd and enjoy 100 minutes of pure poetic art. This film is truely the essence of filmaking at its finest.

quite real, quite sad (minor spoilers)

[RealSmiff · 7/10 · 21 January 2004]

I had heard good things about this film and was, you guessed it, a bit disappointed. Reese Witherspoon is as promised surprisingly good, surprisingly confident, at a young age; really all the (small) cast are quite solid, in their simple 50s American setting. The reason I didn't rate this film higher is mainly that towards the end, the grief shown by the older sister didn't seem so real and this pulled me out of the film a bit. Perhaps we are expected to fill in the plot, or perhaps the film needed to be a bit longer. Maureen's character is quite underdeveloped I think. It is understandable that Dani (Reese W., the younger) would be traumatised and angry, but why is her sister shown to be more upset? Because she's a few years older? Hasn't the end rather undermined the rest of the film? The pacing of the movie makes it seem that Maureen and Court have only just met, when he gets tractored (warning: this scene is surprisingly brutal, in retrospect it seems like it might have been trying to shock a bit. well it works!). It depends what you want - if you want the girls' happy story of young love that it seems like you're going to get, you're in for a surprise. Man in the Moon is both quaint and dreamy and a harsh coming of age film – a rather awkward combination? I liked the character of Court though, I can see what girls watching this might be watching. And I loved that they had the courage to both let him hurt the younger sister (most men would, most films wouldn't) and get killed.

7/10 on my pretty harsh ratings scale. For some reason I found Jason London on a tractor funny.

Beautiful Coming Of Age Film

[CitizenCaine · 10/10 · 1 March 2004]

A 14 year old girl develops her first serious crush on the 17 year old boy that lives near by, while simultaneously trying to overcome her feelings of inadequacy in comparison to her older sister. That is the simple premise of this beautiful, poetic coming of age film from Director Robert Mulligan. Mulligan is famous for previously directing Summer of '42 in 1971 and To Kill A Mockingbird in 1962, two giants of the coming of age genre. Here he directs newcomers in the principal roles: Reese Witherspoon, in her film debut, as the 14 year old girl; Emily Warfield, as the older sister; Jason London, as Court, the 17 year old boy. Reese Witherspoon is astonishingly good in her film debut, displaying every emotion that a 14 year old girl feels in experiencing young love and hurt, never striking a false note. Warfield and London are both equally good as well. The film accurately depicts each adolescent's thoughts or feelings in regard to love with heartfelt sensitivity, never crossing over into maudlin excess even once. Kudos to the autobiographical screenplay from Jenny Wingfield; this is one of the very few films about young love that is honest and consistent in tone without being emotionally dishonest or sensationalist. The music is wonderfully simple, accentuating the tone and mood from scene to scene, but never becoming intrusive. The beautiful cinematography is by famed horror director Freddie Francis, who was in his 70's when this was shot. Tess Harper and Sam Waterston play the girls' parents with dead aim accuracy for 1957, caring, strict, and emotionally simple. Gail Strickland is good also as the boy's mother. There are feelings to sort out, lessons to learn, and truths to face in this sweet-natured film that packs an emotional wallop. To date, this is Robert Mulligan's last film. This is one of the very best films of 1991. **** of 4 stars.

What a .... Reese!

[xristinad · 6/10 · 5 July 2018]

WOW what a film debut for the 14 year old at that time Reese! No wonder why she was cast for one of the leading roles and not for the extras she auditioned for... Her acting on the film explains her later took off in Hollywood. I think though that her recent movies don't do her justice.. Overall, a good film, with pretty scenery and good photography. Other than Reese and Mr Waterston, the rest of the cast is ok and so is the plot.

beautiful love triangle story

[TheUnknown837-1 · 9/10 · 11 June 2007]

Here's the kind of love story that I do enjoy watching. And mostly, it's for two reasons. One, it concentrates of young people, VERY young people. People who are still in their teens and are experiencing love for the first time, or at least think they are. All of us have been there in our lives and "The Man in the Moon" is a magnificent reflection upon our memories, maybe adding on a few more details and enhancing it further than any of us have experienced. The second reason is that is a love triangle. And I do believe that as teens, it's the most dramatic. And the story is so well developed that you believe the characters could really be in love, or are just so new to love that they just strongly believe they are and after a tragedy or so occurs, will believe it for the rest of their lives.

The cast of "The Man in the Moon" is full of great talented names. It stars Sam Waterston, who is truly a versatile actor, well capable of playing tough district attorneys as well as strict, yet caring and wise fathers as in this film. Also there is Tess Harper, Jason London, and a young, young Reese Witherspoon. You look at the young, talented actress as she is at age fourteen and you think that about ten years down the road, she's going to win the Academy Award. All members of the cast pull off great performances and with the dialogue of the compelling screenplay, they are enhanced into looking like real people in real situations. As if it all really happened. This the kind of movie that I would like to see come out more often. Love story or not. I would love to see films that make everything look real and is not phony or disbelievable in any way.

A Nice Little Gem

[sq8188 · 7/10 · 26 April 2013]

A nice little gem. Every word of it. It is a small picture and it was nice. There ! Idyllic country scene and superb cinematography makes this movie very watchable. It is amazing that Witherspoon probably did her finest dramatic work the first time out. From the first look on, Witherspoon's Danny was absorbing and real. You could understand her. Perhaps you have a niece that went through similar experience, perhaps you were her in your adolescent years. Fine example of art imitating life. Jason London, the subject of her adolescent love, was also excellent in his role. Sam Waterston as the father in rural town showed perfect nuance of characters in that era. The only miscast was Tess Harper,who was wooden. It might not be her fault as there were hardly any lines written for her role even though it was a woman's screenplay. Overall very touching and we got the resolution we expect in the end.

Unsatisfying characters & plot

[claytonchurch1 · 4/10 · 15 July 2013]

I like romances. Here's what I liked: the scenery (I got the "feel" of living in rural Louisiana, and that was great); and Matt's good, fatherly words to Dani on the boat were worth the movie. Here's where the movie failed me. Though I love Sam Waterston, I'm a northerner who's now lived in the South for 14 years, and see here and elsewhere that when northerners (Sam's from Boston) try to play Southerners, they get so much wrong, which Sam does. I like his fatherly role, but his style, mannerisms, and accent are just out of place as a Louisiana dad. If I were a Southerner, I'd feel very poorly represented. Sometimes the writing was just bad, with characters saying things way too "philosophy of life-ish." They were little monologues that were out of place. Lastly, with the writing, characters are sometimes having all this emotion one way or the other when "all that" wouldn't be possible to have built up in the character in the short time frame that the storyline proposes. There's betrayal in the movie that is simply accepted by all the characters (but one), so the person wronged is never given any sense of consolation or true apology. That left me wanting. Maureen's character was flat--in the end, I needed some kind of character growth (realizations) in her that the writer(s) never delivered. That was disappointing.

BEAUTIFUL MOVIE HOWEVER I HAVE A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP FOR THIS MOVIE

[tashneemisaacsbff · 6/10 · 16 May 2021]

The movie shows how a young girl transitions into her early teenage years and how the bond between two sisters are tested.

The beginning of the movie made me happy for Danny and the fact that she finally found someone that likes her for her. Especially since she is always comparing herself to her sister..However until the person she likes falls for her sister but what upsets me so much is the fact that none of them have the decency to tell her how they felt about them each other before indulging in anything. All they care about is themselves. Then after 2days they seemingly love each other and then he is horrid with Danny. Then things takes a twist and he dies and Maureen the sisters grief is seemingly worse than Danny's eventhough Danny was betrayed by her sister, she was cheated on by the first guy she loved and kissed and to top it off she saw his dead body in his mom's arms. But Maureens grief is worse because she fell in love after 2 days.!

One of the best movies I have ever seen

[captainblackadder · 10/10 · 9 December 2003]

Perfect movies are rare. Even my favorite films tend to have flaws - Rear Window looks a little stagey at times, Chris Elliot's character in Groundhog Day doesn't work, the music score in Best Years of Our Lives is too cheesy, the beginning of Nights of Cabiria is a little too slow - but this film is perfectly executed from start to finish.

The script is brilliant, the acting is superb all around (although Reese Witherspoon and Sam Waterston are amazing, the whole cast shines), the directing and the photography are inspired, and the music score is touching without being intrusive (like some Miramax scores that are too manipulative). Every sad moment is truly moving, every light moment makes me smile. This truly is one of the best films I have ever seen and I wish there were more films like it.

I am glad that Reese Witherspoon has gone on to stardom after this film, but I am sorry to see that her recent movies are so much more escapist and silly than this serious film which is about real people, real feelings and real problems. Brilliant! A must-see.

Mixed Feelings

[AllSunday · 20 January 2004]

The movie had some great acting and setting, I would of really liked this movie if not for the last half hour. The characters of Court and Maureen were terrible people, yet by the end of the movie we're supposed to ignore that and feel sorry for them. Court was the worst, he was really friendly to Dani and all, they kissed, and they seemed like a cute couple, yet, the moment he laid eyes on Maureen he completely ignored Dani throughout the rest of the film. I would of liked the movie a lot better if Dani never forgave Maureen, Maureen said she cared for Dani yet didn't care enough to do something so low and not even tell her. This movie has a lot of things working for it, but I hate how the characters are handled.

growing up in the old south

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 12 February 2022]

Not to be confused with man ON the moon 1999... that's a very different film. Dani and maureen (reese witherspoon, emily warfield) are the trent sisters; teenagers, just coming of age. They are both starting to notice boys. Including court, the one who just moved in next door. When tragedy strikes, it's devastating to all the locals. And it tests family dynamics. Can't say too much...for spoilers. It's quite good. Loss. Growing up in the south. First love. Family. Includes a couple songs performed by elvis. And lot of cicadas and crickets chirping constantly. As they do. Directed by robert mulligan. He was nominated for mockingbird. Man in the moon was the last film he directed. Written by jenny wingfield.

The moment between childhood and adulthood . . . painful . . . beautiful . . . and perfect!

[dark_elf02 · 10/10 · 19 October 2005]

That magical moment in life, that point between the beautiful innocence of childhood, and the confusing whirlwind that marks adulthood . . . this is what this movie is all about.

Danni (wonderfully played by Reese Witherspoon) is right at that moment in life when the movie starts. She swoons over Elvis, playing his records and wishfully thinking about love. Maureen her sister will soon be off to college, has no trouble with attracting boys, is beautiful, and seems to have it all figured out although she doesn't. She dates a local loser whos father is also after her, and just wishes she could find a decent boy and be swept off her feet. Danni like most young teenagers wishes she could be anyone else but herself because most teenagers think that who they are just isn't good enough. She wants to be Maureen but doesn't see that she is beautiful herself.

The moment adulthood begins to intrude itself upon her life is when she meets Court Foster for the first time. Court whos father has recently died has moved to their old farm to work it with his mother and two younger brothers. He has been thrust responsibility when he should be having fun. On one particular hot day he goes to the pond and jumps in only to find Danni skinny dipping. They yell and argue and Danni leaves. But they see each other a day later when Courts mother is invited to Danni's to visit old friends(Danni's Parents). Danni becomes attracted to Court, and Court to Danni. She is a tomboy and is spunky, has attitude and says whats on her mind.

Court is 17 and Danni 14 and he knows it but they continue to grow closer with their days at the pond between Court working the farm. By the time Court kisses her one day, Danni is smitten. Danni's father tells her to invite Court to the house and he does. but things are uncomfortable for Court on his "sort of date". The silence though is broken by his meeting with Maureen who has yet to see Court. One look between the two and its all over. The looks of pain and defeat on Danni's face are both beautiful in their trueness to life and painful at the same time. The rest of the movie I will not tell but the movie has more to it than a relationship between a boy and two sisters.

The greatness of the movie is in its depiction of lifes moments both beautiful and painful and the relationship between two sisters whose love is tested by both a boy that they love, and the pain they must endure both together and individually. Danni eventually marks her entrance into the world when she sees that the world is unfair, painful, and maybe even a little less hopeful than when the movie started. Few movies can truly capture the wonder of childhood and the pain of adulthood so perfectly. This movie has since the first time I watched it stuck in my mind. Its in the my Top 100 movie list and deservedly so. I only wish more movies like this were made, because if so . . . my faith in Hollywood would be a lot better.

I cannot agree with the glowing reviews below

[Boyo-2 · 7/10 · 5 July 2000]

That is not to say that I hated this movie. There is nothing really wrong with it but it did not move me, emotionally or intellectually. I thought all the acting was great and while it had too many by-the-numbers plot points, that didn't bother me either. I don't want to bad-mouth a sweet little movie like this, so I will just say nothing else, other than it was great to hear Elvis on the soundtrack!

Heartbreaking Story About First Love

[Darkest_Rose · 8/10 · 16 July 2003]

Dani(Reese Witherspoon) has always been very close with her older sister Maureen(Emily Warfield) until they both start falling in love with their neighbor Court(Jason London). But it is not after a terrible tragedy strikes that the two sisters realize that nothing can keep them apart and that their love for each other will never fade away.

This was truly a heartbreaking story about first love. Probably the most painful story about young love that I have ever seen. All the acting is amazing and Reese Witherspoon gives a great performance in her first movie. I would give The Man in the Moon 8.5/10

early Witherspoon star power

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 10 May 2015]

It's summer of 1957 rural Louisiana. Dani Trant (Reese Witherspoon) is a 14 year old Elvis fan. She's close to her older sister Maureen who is going to Duke in the fall. She has a younger sister Missy and her mother Abigail (Tess Harper) is pregnant with the fourth. Her father Matthew (Sam Waterston) is eager for a son. While skinny dipping at the Foster's place, Dani encounters 17 year old Court Foster (Jason London) whose family just returned to their property.

Reese Witherspoon delivers quite a precocious performance. Her star power is evident even at such a young age. She plays off of Jason London very well who is fully into his boyish charms. The drawback is Emily Warfield who plays Maureen. She doesn't have the same star power and it shows. This coming-of-age story is touching bittersweet like a sunny summer day followed by a stormy night. I love all the conflicted teen girl thought process and first love struggles. It could have gone soft at the end but instead it takes an even darker turn. I do wish that Maureen is played by a more powerful actress. In the end, the sisters' relationship is the center of the movie.

Very good movie

[kenday1 · 8/10 · 26 June 2003]

As I watched this movie I began to feel very nostalgic. As a child growing up in a rural area I felt as if I was a kid again! The swimming pond (it's called a "tank" in Central Texas), the running through the countryside like a wild free spirit! The story was very believable and I totally lost it and cried toward the end. Through the pain we go through in life...life goes on and there can be forgiveness.

Side Branch of "Splendor in the Grass" and "This Property is Condemned"

[davidtraversa-1 · 7/10 · 1 April 2013]

Nice movie if one leaves aside the picture-perfect characters in this family of squeaky clean members: Ideal mother, perfect father, excellent daughters, noble boyfriend, all of them with perfect manners, living in an idyllic environment, with admirable neighbors, friends and pets (and weather!).

Maybe people like them exists, lucky them.

Under those premises the film is excellent and very pleasant to watch.

After all, not seeing awful characters on the screen is quite a change!! And maybe that disoriented me and had that first reaction, but now, thinking it over, it wouldn't be a bad thing to live among people with those straight and noble principles. Nice living.

Very well interpreted, all actors splendid in their roles, good direction, excellent photography and editing and good final resolution for the storyline.

Caution: boredom ahead

[despaciosideral · 4/10 · 5 December 2012]

A little movie with a little story about little people doing little things. The Man in the Moon is another coming-of-age film, in which two farmer's daughters and sisters fall in love with the new-neighboring- hillbillyesh teen, the little girl obtaining nothing more than a mild kiss and lots of frustration and uncalled verbal abuse from the relationship while the older one makes love with him and begins to fancy about an early wedding. This state of things goes on until the kid has the unfortunate luck of being accidentally run-down and chopped to death by his own plough while trying to recover, without first stopping the engine and without pulling down from the vehicle, a rusty hat he had previously left hanging from a branch of a bush growing beside the crop field he's working on. Then, the two sisters must overcome the sore rivalry they had felt into as a product of being in love with the same and now dead kid, both of them knowing about it. Finally, they put aside all grudge between them and rediscover their sisterly love. The end. Add to the later a subplot about a gravid mother falling into her belly and then being hospitalized, and finally recovering and having her healthy fourth daughter (instead of the boy his husband was expecting for, which, as we learn in the movie, is the only reason the couple is going through it again). That's it, there you have it. Child Reese Witherspoon saves the movie from being a total boredom, but, hey, expect no miracles here: not even she can save it from being a simple (and a very simple one) boredom.

Explosion of emotions in reserved persons... Great movie!

[przgzr · 21 May 2005]

There must be something romantic in American farms, and it is probably forever lost, so American directors return to that ambiance whenever they want to make real, human, touching romantic dramas that won't be Hanks-Ryan romanced comedies, big tragedies like 'Autumn in New York' or dark urban exploring of human soul like 'Eyes Wide Shut'. In Europe we can't understand it, because most parts of Europe don't have so wide plains which leave small communities so far from the world that whatever happens people stay leaning on each other. Austrians place their lost-time romantic dramas on Habsburg castles and no one but aristocrats can feel them, Swedish directors find romance far north and these dramas are hard as the life there is, Italians like to return in their childhood villages where everyone is shouting or talking endlessly and no one listens, Czechs have their communist history as fetish that makes them cry deep inside even when things look so amusing. But American farm dramas are so full of emotions that can so easily be misunderstood by modern audience as soapy, maudlin, false sentimental. The emotions are never too open, people are almost as reserved as Swedish, but not because strict rules forbid them to show what they feel (as among monarchs). They just follow the rules inherited from their grandparents, and they are too isolated to change quickly. A tractor, or one Elvis record is most they can afford, either because of culture, lack of money or tradition.

These movies can seem hopelessly romantic and (as some call it) chick-movies, but female directors don't touch the subject. It is the world where man, a father of the family, still rules, and wives can only support him and, sometimes, but hiding from him, support their children when fathers becomes too strict. And, what seems to be most odious for feminist directors, these women don't seem to be unhappy.

Remember 'River', 'Amber Waves', 'Days Of Heaven", 'Places In Heart', maybe even 'Shadrach', or 'Tender Mercies'... Most of these movies don't have villains or even unkind characters except in small roles. Sometimes they exist only to make things a little harder, but the life is hard enough itself. You have floods or droughts, diseases or accidents, and you don't need a single murderer, dealer or even an attorney to make your life bitter and a story dynamic. In 'Man In The Moon' you can hardly remember a character that's not as good as you'd like your parents, sisters, friends, or even yourself to be. They may make mistakes, you may sometimes think they could've done better, but be honest: wouldn't you do the same (or even worse?).

All these movies go rather slow like those wide American plain rivers, each small event, each birth, wedding, illness is a quake for whole community. If you don't know the plot of 'Man In The Moon' you won't be able to predict much. The first half of the movie is almost a light coming-to-age comedy, if not placed in such environment and inter-family relations, more similar to a French movie. The tragic event isn't announced even by music as it usually is. If you don't always have a spare bag full of tears it's (thank God and authors) not a film to make you cry all the time, but if you have any emotions in yourself, be prepared to have them touched.

I wrote more than a few lines against modern US movies. This movie shows me that even in 90's something so human can be done. I'll pray for writers and directors like these to live and work as long as possible, because I don't see younger ones who would keep following their paths.