Moonlight Mile

MOONLIGHT MILE boasts one of the finest scripts written for a film. Written and directed by Brad Silberling ('10 Items or Less') this little film is so genuine and beautifully crafted and acted that it seems odd that it has not become a cult classic in the art film houses. The story melds tragedy with comic relief in such a successful way that it is truly a slice of life we all have or will encounter. And offering a tough situation as played out by four characters in the end gives us all a sense of balance: bad things happen and pass and what is important is that we each 'find our home', our stable survival place.The film opens in a small town somewhere in the early part of the 1970s, the Vietnam war still a cloud that casts shadows on everyone. Jojo and Ben Floss (Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman) are preparing to wade through the uncomfortable aspects of their daughter Diana's funeral: Diana was accidentally killed in a cafe when an unknown man attempted to murder his wife over a family dispute. Diana was to be married to Joe Nast (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Joe is in town for the wedding preparations and to reluctantly begin as Ben's partner in selling commercial real estate. In what could be a morbid atmosphere Jojo vents her just under the surface aggressions about how two-faced people are about mourning and funerals and burials. Somehow Jojo, Ben and Joe survive the day and Joe seems to be providing the stabilizing force by standing by his would-have-been parents-in-law. The three of them meet with lawyer Mona (Holly Hunter) to prepare for the trial of the murderer, facing the fact that if convicted the murderer could face the death penalty and the judge would be asking the family for their input on that decision.Joe seeks distance from the situation, meets a pretty postal clerk Bertie (Ellen Pompeo) while attempting to prevent the wedding invitations to go out in the email: later Joe discovers the Bertie waits tables at Cal's Bar and Grill at night, a gesture of devotion to the owner/boyfriend Cal who has been missing for three years in Vietnam. The song 'Moonlight mile' connects the two needy people and they head toward a lighthearted but anxious mutual feeling of companionship.Meanwhile, Jojo has been unable to continue as a writer since Diana's death, Ben buries his emotions about losing his only child by concentrating on the new 'Floss & Son' realty company, and the couple argues about life in general and all but adopts Joe as their only compensation for the loss of their daughter. Joe holds a secret: he broke off his engagement with Diana before the wedding - a fact that has many permutations to the actual incident in the cafe and the manner in which he feels Ben and Jojo will react to him. How this revelation comes to light in the courtroom makes a unique impact on all concerned and Joe's steadfast truthfulness actually mends the lives of the Floss family and his own perception of his future.Silberling's script tackles many issues and does so with genuine pathos and compassion, creating wholly believable characters that are gratefully fleshed out by this extraordinary cast. Susan Sarandon once again proves why she is one of our finest actresses on the screen today, while Gyllenhaal and Hoffman and Pompeo and Hunter match her every move. The power of this film comes in the quiet moments, moments when we are reminded what makes relationships work, how we all need to find that special harbor we call home. An amazingly fine film! Grady Harp, July 10

I enjoyed this movie.

Good movie. Felt like I was right back there in the 70's. When things were simpler yet more intense. When it was enough to get a handle on your own issues and the larger world seemed, at least, to revolve in a separate dimension. More than a few rich exchanges between the characters.

This is a good story, with great stars in it, Susan Sarandon, Dustin Hoffman, and Jake Gillanhall.

You can't ever go wrong with Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon--masters at their craft. This film tells such a beautiful story, and if you've ever lost someone, you feel what these characters feel at the moment they feel it. I loved the truth in this film--the fact that a daughter/fiancee was murdered, yet the manner in which she died was so minor to the film, just as it is in life. When you lose someone, there's not a damn thing that can bring them back, no matter how they left this earth.

Such a welcomed FANTASTIC MOVIE wish Hollywood would do more like this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simply put, this film explores grief and redemption on so many levels that it left me drained and wanting more. Love, in all its complex and intimate forms, are left for us here to make sense of our own lives--exactly what we yearn for from films.

This movie is dreadful! I couldnt get past the first half hour...I tried! Ok...so maybe the family and fiance were in SHOCK and couldn't properly mourn the MURDER of their daughter/fiance....but waiting for the next few scences of the story the one liners and smirking and idiotic jokes became unbearable. This is fiction at its worst....showing no REACTION to a horrific event! And then leading the audience to a perky little mailclerk with obvious intentions towards the bereaved fiance!! REALLY! .......and it COULD have been a great movie!....a good storyline...great actors! But a script that failed to delve into the depths of human emotion and painful loss. How does it end? ...Dont know...maybe they finally all get real...but it was TOO hard getting there!!

It is rare that you meet a film as charming, beautiful, amusing and well-acted as this one. It is an utter gem, being relatively unknown, and its sparity of circulation simply heightens its appeal, making it seem that you alone are sharing in this wonderful secret.I would beg people to watch this film as vigorously as I could, and yet I would be slightly hesitant as I did so, wanting rather to keep it to myself, such is its personal tone and style.The characters are very well crafted and fantastically portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon. Silberling really hit a sweet spot when he chose a dead character as the pivot around which the film is founded, keeping the audience guessing.The script is polished and the attention to detail almost makes you weep with admiration.I have to restrain myself here, but whatever you do before you die, make sure you watch this film!

This is a heartbreaking study of grief, with strong performances all around. Dustin Hoffman is the Graduate Benjamin 40 years on, and is masterful as the father battling extreme bereavement - particularly effective in the scene when he visits the site of his daughter's pointless death. Susan Sarandon is pretty much as you could expect, but a real class act. Jake Gyllenhaal captures the confusion of the situation well, and the film has a killer soundtrack. Recommended

excellent movie!

Not the run of the mill but most enjoyable. I shall watch it again.I wasn't sure at first but really got into it.

all ok