Review of Moonstruck (1987) by Sean M — 21 Dec 2007

Great performances, great movie that is romantic without being saccharine or too schmaltzy. Cher, as Loretta Castorini, turns in a typically stellar performance (why hasn't she done more movies the past fifteen years if you consider her performance in this and Mask?) alongside Nicholas Cage.

Maybe a somewhat far-fetched storyline development, but really makes one ponder the attraction of lovers as a force of nature, something characterized by a combination of surrender, agency, and perhaps fate.

You have certain characters, aside from the leads, grappling with those dynamics as passion begins to ignite (especially Loretta's mother, Olympia Dukakis, pondering the sanctity of a relatively passionless marriage to a man cheating on her while having a seemingly benign dinner with a professor, played by John Mahoney).

Lastly, although I have never been, it kind of makes me want to experience the opera. I have to recommend this one.