Review of Moonstruck (1987) by Shane M — 08 Jul 2014

A classic rom-com in the best way (actually romantic and funny, but also having tons of wit and charm). Moonstruck follows a Sicilian American widow named Loretta Castorini who agrees to marry a an named Johnny Cammareri, but he must visit his dying mother in Sicily, and she visits his brother Ronny in order to patch up the differences between them, but she later starts to fall for Ronny.

The film is a heavy deviation from the normal romance formula (predictability, clichés, hot and popular stars, no chemistry between the main stars, same BS story, shitty writing, lack of direction, and a lack of romance), and offers up a film that's not only believable and entertaining, but also smart and witty, with heavy thanks to writer John Patrick Shanely, who won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay by giving audiences a natural romance story with strong character studies of Loretta, Ronny, and Loretta's family, giving audiences a romance film with an appropriate level of depth, and at times, emotion and humor.

He also inputs lots of humor, true emotion, and REAL romance, while also using lots of wit and charm in the story. Another he uses is symbolism especially during a scene where a full moon is seen in the sky.

The film is brought to life by director Norman Jewison, who received an Oscar nod for Best Director by managing real chemistry between Cher and Nicolas Cage, but also getting all the laughs out, and managing realistic interactions between the characters, keeping this romance story far from its inferior competitors (and some like them better than this, what a joke).

The film is far from today's love stories as it received six Oscar nods for Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor for Vincent Gardenia as Cosmo Castorini, Loretta's father and a successful plumber, and won three for Best Original Screenplay, Actress for Cher as Loretta, an accountant for a few local businesses in Brooklyn Heights, New York, and Supporting Actress for Olympia Dukakis as Roe, Loretta's moter who offers Loretta warnings and advice, as well as some funny moments.

Nicolas Cage received a Golden Globe nod for portraying Ronny, an estranged baker with signs of depression and anger towards his brother. One of the best romantic comedies ever, and a must-see for movie-goers.