Review of Moonlight Mile (2002) by Garfield L — 16 Apr 2006

If you go to watch this movie just because of the cast, you may feel disappointed, because it is just so so.

There seems no dramatic way to express the freshness of the script, but it is just OK. Unfortunatly, the director/writer seemed unconsciously went down into some kind of cliche and used a bunch of characters who had similar issues to express certain initiaves, or intents to deny and escape from the reality of memories, the uncertainty of the future, as well as the weariness againt daily routines. And that's all: the audience can never get a clear impression or awareness how this shall impact them.

At the end, Gyllenhaal's character Joe, was arranged to play a self-rescued hero. Everybody's saved, happily then. The hell with it, I tell the truth, thus I'm rescued. Isn't that surreal?

The cast is somewhat luxurious: Susan Sarandon, Dustin, Hoffman and Holly Hunter-5 oscars summed-up, I guess? I always anticipate some breakthrough performance of Dustin, but, he was just doing his job, nothing more. Similarity happened with Susan. Her character was some kind of left-winged writer, which suited the personality herself. Jake's performance is quite good, actually. He played a self-depressed, hesitating and fragile character, which is not smilar to his personality at all. Another one I liked is Ellen Pompeo (I love her performance in Grey's Anatomy). Her performance is quite holding-back, but the fragility, conflicts and strength deep inside the character was expressed quite properly.