Inside Pulse DVD Review – Moonstruck: Deluxe Edition

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DVD available at Amazon.com

Director:

Norman Jewison

Cast:

Cher……….Loretta Castorini
Nicolas Cage……….Ronny Cammareri
Vincent Gardenia……….Cosmo Castorini
Olympia Dukakis……….Rose Castorini
Danny Aiello……….Johnny Cammareri
Julie Bovasso……….Rita Cappomaggi
John Mahoney……….Perry
Louis Guss……….Raymond Cappomaggi
Feodor Chaliapin……….Old Man

MGM presents Moonstruck. Written by John Patrick Shanley. Running time: 102 minutes. Rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). Released on DVD: April 11, 2006.

The movie:

moon·struck – adj. Affected mentally in some way, supposedly by the influence of the moon; specif., a) crazed’ lunatic’ insane b) romantically dreamy c) dazed or distracted.

1987 was a remarkable year for movies. Broadcast News, Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, The Untouchables, Full Metal Jacket. There are at least 20 more I could have listed. Let’s not get carried away. Each of these movies was nominated for Oscars. Some won, others didn’t. The dark horse favorite that year had to have been Moonstruck. Six years old at the time, I had no opinion about this movie. I was more concerned with Legos and Transformers. Almost two decades would pass before I would see it in its entirety.

Quite a long time, but well worth the wait.

A light-hearted romance, Moonstruck is one of the best of the rom-com variety. Cher stars as Loretta Castorini, an Italian woman in her late thirties who has moved back in with her parents. She was a wife who became a widow; a bus accident took her husband. There’s a bit of feistiness in her demeanor, probably because of her upbringing. In a time where a woman’s age could be considered a turnoff, Cher is astonished to find herself still capable of love. She’s not the only one. Her contemptuous mother, Rose (Olympia Dukakis), goes out to dinner by herself one night, and meets Frasier Crane’s dad, er, a university professor (John Mahoney) who is eating with a younger woman. A student from one of his classes no less. He enjoys the company of youthful exuberance. So much so, before the waiter can give him the check, water is thrown in his face. Rose sees the disturbance from only a few tables away, and their eyes meet. A connection. There is another liaison as Cher’s father, Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia), has been engaged in a secretive affair with a younger, better-proportioned woman for years.

As the film opens, a full moon hovers over the skyline of Manhattan; ripples in the water cascade in the moonlight. Loretta is dining with her boyfriend Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello). While people are eating and busboys are cleaning, Johnny gets on one knee and pops the question. Is it love that he’s feeling, or does he just enjoy Loretta’s company? The question is never answered because the husband-to-be flies to Sicily to sit next to the bedside of his dying mother. With Johnny out of the country, she goes to talk to his estranged younger brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage), and is taken aback by this baker with a wooden hand.

Even with malicious acts of infidelity taking place, screenwriter John Patrick Shanley is able to allow his creation be about the people and their problems, rather than the action. Old wounds, grudges, and topics as diverse as love and death are sprinkled throughout, like pasta topped with Parmesan cheese. And through the troubles with familial relations, humor is able is grow. Rose’s old-as-dirt father-in-law (Feodor Chaliapin), who lives upstairs with his dogs, at one moment tries to break the tension at the family dinner table. “Someone tell a joke,” he said to those sitting. The director Norman Jewison was hesitant about casting Chaliapin as the father-in-law, wondering if he could speak English. Talking with Sean Connery, who has worked with the actor before, Mr. 007 told him that he can speak English, French, and some German. But be careful, “he steals every bloody scene that he’s in.”

Marriage is about give and take. So slip-ups can happen. Rose knows that her husband is having an affair. One night he comes home and she asks him where he’s been. “Nowhere,” Cosmo replies. Then she knocks some sense into him. Not with slap, or a blunt object, but with a simple fact: “No matter where you go, or what you do – you’re gonna die.” Mama Castorini must be showing her age, because she is so wise.

A lot of Moonstruck is about love and life. Love between men and women; the human element of relationships. Both the director and the screenwriter take their time, letting their characters show their strengths and weaknesses through conversation. There is a realism here. When Johnny comes back to Manhattan he goes to Loretta’s place, and ends up having a conversation with her mother. The two talk about relationships, exploring the questionable nature of men’s need to have affairs – sometimes with more than one woman. It’s not about the sex. It’s about life.

And that’s amore!

Score: 8.5/10

The DVD:

THE VIDEO
(Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen)

Though the back of the DVD packaging says the film was remastered in high definition, not much was done for the print. The transfer is solid for the most part, but there are definite problems with shuddering and grain. Occasionally, black streaks pop up in the print. Still, the problems decrease as the rom-com continues.

Score: 6/10

THE AUDIO
(English 5.1 – Dolby Digital, French or Spanish – Dolby Surround)

Unfortunately, the 5.1 track drains out the life of the party. The dialogue is low, so have your remote controller nearby. The guys behind the DVD should have included the original mono sound track as a better alternative. Because the audio here does not do the Dean Martin songs justice. Instead of it of being amore, it feels like a hole in a boat. Now ain’t that a kick in the head.

Score: 5/10

SPECIAL FEATURES: Recipe cards ARE included!!!

Those who have the original, fullscreen only release of Moonstruck can use it as a coaster. This deluxe release ports over the audio commentary featuring Cher, Director Norman Jewison and Writer John Patrick Shanley. Their comments were recorded separately, but are seamlessly cut together. The result is a fun track with lots of insight from Jewison and Shanley. To think, MGM didn’t believe this movie would perform well in theaters since it didn’t have a target demographic. Hmmm, millions upon millions in theater grosses and, um, three Oscars (including a Best Actress trophy for Cher), yeah that’s what happens when you have a bunch of suits thinking on the audience’s behalf.

If the excellent commentary left you with wanting to know more about this rom-com, try Moonstruck: At the Heart of an Italian Family (25:28) and Music of Moonstruck (6:24). The first featurette regurgitates some of the same information heard in the commentary. Subjects include the genesis of the film – the screenplay, the casting and the Academy Awards, among others. Things to remember. Jewison telling Cher, “If you don’t play her [Loretta], you will regret it for the rest of your life.” (See Academy Award.) Jewison on the eve of the Oscars told Dukakis that she would win gold, as well. The man is freakin’ Carnac.

The music feature could have easily been included in the mini-doc, but I guess the man behind the documentary wanted to focus on the story, the actors, and the movie only.
As a nice touch, recipe cards for Spadini Romana, Bucatini all’ Amatriciana and Lamb de Elvino. Sure beats making spaghetti and meatballs.

To keep on the subject of food, Pasta to Pastries: The Art of Fine Italian Food is an interactive map of Little Italy with Mark DeCarlo showing you what this strip of New York City has to offer. After a brief (1:40) intro by host DeCarlo, you have the option of watching six separate segments on eateries on Mulberry Street: Grotta Azzura (18:46); Ferrara Pastries (2:28); Gelato Stand (1:02); Italian Food Center (2:31); Piemonte Ravioli Co. (2:07) and Florio’s Restaurant (1:24).

Score: 7/10

InsidePulse’s Ratings for Moonstruck
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE MOVIE

8.5
THE VIDEO

6
THE AUDIO

5
THE EXTRAS

7
REPLAY VALUE

7
OVERALL
8
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!