A Walk on the Moon
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Movie Reviews of A Walk on the Moon
Movie Review: A Masterpiece-and Viggo for Sexiest Man EVER!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is among the most underrated films I have ever seen. The characters, the casting, the subplots, Tony Goldwyn's superb directing, I simply cannot say enough about this film. Diane Lane was superb as a young wife and mother whose youth came to a halt when she becomes pregnant at 17 and she later has another child after her daughter. Lane's character Pearl is an adventurer and a free spirit who is married to a good man who is, alas, unbelievably conventional, uptight, boring, and so unromantic I found myself wincing several times throughout the movie. The scene where he confronts Pearl about the Blouse Man is so lackluster I was thinking, "Yeah this guy seems REALLY upset".
And speaking of the Blouse Man.....As far as I am concerned Viggo Mortensen is the most devine man who ever graced this planet. He is already overwhelming as an artist and an activist, but when one adds his superb acting abilities to the list he is almost unbearable. Mortensen's role of Jerome Walker is among his best performances and by far his most sensual. The moment Pearl meets Walker the attraction is tangible as she looks at him and sees everything she wants and everything she wanted to be. Her affair with Walker gives her back the things that were taken away from her when she became a wife and mother.
Mortensen is beyond temptation knocking on Pearl's door. The way he moves, holds himself, and looks at every woman who comes into his bus is seduction itself. He takes one look at Pearl and knows what this woman has lost and what she needs to regain the part of herself she has sacrificed. From the moment he bites the tag off the tie-dye shirt he gives to her (one of the sexiest moves you have ever seen) you cheer for this gorgeous couple and wish that Pearl was free in order to live her dreams with this sublime man. The love scenes in this film are beautifully done and practically set the screen on fire as Pearl abandons her barely-there inhibitions with a very obliging Walker.
Perhaps the most intense scene in the movie is when Pearl's son is injured while Pearl is with Walker. As they are pulling back up to the summer commune Pearl is accosted by her fellow housewives to tend to her her injured child. As she and Walker rush to the boy's side, it is Walker (much to the dismay of Pearl's mother-in-law) who knows how to tend to the wounds and comfort the boy. After her son is treated Pearl's husband rushes into the house and the three parties of the love triangle are in the same room. Your heart breaks for Pearl as her anguish is written all over her face and when her husband turns to Walker and thanks him for assisting their son, you don't hurt for her you hurt with her. It is a gut-wrenching scene that is so visual it is almost more stirring when you mute the audio. The runner-up as the most poignant moment in this film is when Pearl's daughter watches her through a pair of binoculars at Woodstock. Busted is the understatement of the millennium for that discovery. Even so, Pearl looks absolutely beautiful in her joy and freedom as Walker swings her around in his arms. Once more, Viggo Mortensen, in a low-slung pair of tight pants, no shirt, and artfully painted as he lowers Diane down and slinkily crawls on top of her.....On a lighter note, I would be thinking "Good job Mom!"
The ending is happy and a bummer at the same time. I'm not going to give it away but I thought Pearl would make a different choice than what she did. When you watch the scene with Pearl and Walker in his room you will understand what I mean. It is in that moment Viggo Mortensen shows us what a truly superb actor he is with naked emotion in his face, voice, and eyes. If you loved The Bridges of Madison County, you will love a Walk on the Moon. If you are a fan of any of the actors in this film you will love it. If you are a Viggo fan you will need something cold to drink and if you just want to see a great movie this will certainly leave you satisfied. And above all else, this is a terrific selection to watch with someone you love.
Movie Review: Love with Millions of Sighs
Summary: 5 Stars
Life does sometimes do cruel thing. As a housewife with kids of 15 and 6, similar situation to Pearl (Lane)fs, and with my favourite actor Viggo Mortensenfs hippy man, I was, and still am, intoxicated by this film about different kind of loves that have shaken my heart tenderly.
It reminded me of my another favourite actor/director, Clint Eastwoodfs romantic film The Bridges of Madison County as a devoted wife of a good man in a calm marriage, if a little bit short of thrills, but happy with two children in its own way, meets a man; her potential Prince Charming. What do you do? You are already in the quick stream of passion with inconceivably pleasant but devilish bliss that you know would make you fall down to psychological hell after the festival ended.@
A Walk on the Moon is set in gtheh 1969, the year two major events on Earth happened. The first step of the mankind on the Moon and the Woodstock. Maybe that is why things went wrong with Pearl and her husband, Marty, and also her newly-became-a-woman daughter. Unlike in The Bridges of Madison County, Marty and, oh my god, fourteen year old daughter, who is going through a sensitive period herself, find out Pearlfs passionate love affair with the gBlouse Manh. The painfully beautiful glove in freedomh causes severe devastation first to Marty, and then to Pearl herself, and everybody.
Which would you choose between two different kind of loves; one that melts your heart with a sweet sigh but with acceptance of lasting guilt, the other one that is less passionate or romantic, but after the hard rain, would turn more secure like mountain?
In any case, I know thegBlouse Manh(with Viggo's face) never comes into my life.
That is the most cruel thing happening to my life right now. Well, canft be helped. Letfs just watch this film again and again with millions of sweet sighs.
Movie Review: beleivable and involving
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a well-made film on every level. It's great how they tie in the goings-on of 1969 to work with the story. And it does work incredibly well. One thing I liked about it is that the performances are realistic and it doesn't smack of Hollywood. It left me with more of a tragic feeling than a romantic one. You can only shake your head over the complexity of the human heart and society that it exists within. They should have included Crosby, Stills and Nash's "Find the Cost of Freedom" in there just for good measure, as this movie certainly explores that. OK, that song is not really about love affairs and their effect on families but about war.. Still, the effect of the affair on her family (the cost of freedom?) is obviously one of the themes in this movie and is in fact part of the price she (and her family) pays. For better or for worse.
I wanted to see this after catching Diane Lane in "Unfaithful", which was a rollarcoaster ride. "A Walk On The Moon" better fits the drama catagory, and doesn't have the edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting impact of "Unfaithful" though it does gently but surely pull you into its world. Thus we care about the characters and become quite interested in the story.
And yes, it was great to see the legend of Woodstock and the late 60s play into the personal life of one family. Neither over nor under-done, the final effect is a beleivable and involving movie that didn't exactly have me yearning for those times, but certainly gives a sense of appreciation and understanding for where people were. While styles and current events have changed, issues of the heart perhaps haven't changed all that much. The hippie revolution seemed to test those issues (among others), adding another interesting element as backdrop to this ancient dilemma.
Movie Review: An ode to family values
Summary: 5 Stars
Such high-quality movies like A Walk On The Moon rarely get released . It's a film about the stormy turns a family's daily life takes when wife Pearl ( Lane ) meets a charming blouse man ( Mortensen ) . Although it's clear that she does love her husband ( Schreiber ) , she fails to remain faithfull to him . At the same time her daughter ( Anna Paquin ) is slowly becoming a woman . Her first flirt with a boy takes place and the girl , full of doubts and questions tries to come in terms with her puberty . The film's biggest strength is it's cast . Lane gives a quiet , carefull perfomance as the young wife while Mortensen displays once more his poisonous charms . The heart of the film though is Liev Schreiber who gives to his character the human sensitivity he needs to seem believable . He's one of these gifted , underrated actors ( see also Don Cheadle , Ben Chaplin ) who we would never like to see leading an expensive , supernatural blockbuster movie . What makes A Walk On The Moon so special is that it talks about things and situations which could easily be true . Frightengly naturall are also the supporting actors who have been casted perfectly as everyday-people of that time . The family's unity is in danger and the viewer almost feels Pearl's frustration and agony about the future . Will her acts torn her home apart ? Director Goldwyn dezerves congratulations for risk losing the teenage audience by making a film about family values . If you ask me though , when a movie is as well written and well acted as this one , age is not a factor . As for the ending is one of the smartest , most impulsive and touching ones you'll ever get the chance to see .Movie Review: Look Beneath The Surface - It's About Emotions!
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent! This is a movie you can watch mulitple times. The essence of it will remain with you after you turn it off.
As one who lived as a young adult in 1969, I could see through the eyes of each character. Excellent acting and storyline. Kudos to the writer and director.
The movie made me mad, sad, and glad, bringing out all three different emotions. At times in our lives, we all are tempted to be someone we're not; and to do things we would not when our emotions get in the way. If we're mad we do one thing; if we're disappointed with life, we may take a selfish turn and do something ordinarily unthinkable, which is what happened with the character Pearl.
This movie portrays very well the emotions of daughter against mother, the emotions of this young teen experiencing the entry into womanhood, the emotions of a father and husband toward his family and his sacrifices for such. The emotions of a family unit seen in 1969 is no different than any family today.
I loved the movie. I would definately have it in my movie library. I give it two thumbs up! (By the way, the 'F' word was not used in 1969, as this movie indicates. This word is put into movies by the generation who DOES use it, thinking it has always been accepted - NOT.)
Gail Gupton, author
The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth