Moonlight Mile Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)October 9th, 2002
"Moonlight Mile"
Director Brad Silberling ("City of Angels") takes real life tragedy and turns it into a catharsis in his story of a young man, Joe Nast (Jake Gyllenhaal), who lost his fiancée to violence just before their wedding in the small town of Cape Anne, Massachusetts. Joe, since the murder, has stayed with the dead girl's parents, Ben and JoJo Floss (Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon), and is trying to be the dutiful, bereaved husband-to-be and loyal almost son-in-law in "Moonlight Mile."
The story mixes comedy in the midst of its tragedy as Joe tries to be all things to all of those around him - especially Ben and JoJo. Ben, with an enthusiasm that masks his despair, makes Joe a partner in his commercial real estate business. JoJo turns to the young man as the only link left to her beloved daughter. Joe, though, harbors a secret that he has kept from the Flosses, one that would undoubtedly change their feelings for him. As he struggles with his conscience, Ben insists that he go to the local post office and retrieve the wedding invitations that were sent before the killing. There he meets attractive tomboy Bertie (Ellen Pompeo) who, besides schlepping the town's mail around, also works at the bar owned by her boyfriend who has been MIA in Vietnam for three long years.
While the screenplay, by Silberling, tries to tug at the heartstrings with its story of tragic death and grief, it also melds humor into the mix but in an uneven and sometimes obvious way. Joe, as we come to learn, is really an immature young man who is unable to stand by the decisions that he has made regarding his life. He can't confront the Flosses with his inner truths and is unable to overcome his little boy sensibilities. When he meets and falls for Bertie he is unable to broach the subject with his almost in-laws. Unfortunately, Gyllenhaal's Joe never rises above his two dimensional character. The film benefits from the chemistry that develops between the young actor and newcomer Pompeo.
Where "Moonlight Mile" draws an ace is in the performances of its veteran actors. Susan Sarandon gives a convincing, strong spin on her role as JoJo. She is the anchor of the marriage with Ben and is a durable foil for her husband, who obsesses over everything as he tries to hide his pain and confusion at their loss. Ben, aptly named as he represents what his same named character from "The Graduate" could have become, overcompensates as he uses Joe to smother the overwhelming sense of loss. Holly Hunter, as Mona Camp, does well in the small role as the attorney who is trying to bring some justice as she prosecutes the killer of the Floss's daughter. Ellen Pompeo makes a strong debut as the love interest and helps put some spine in Joe.
The script tries too hard to do too many things, including the trial of the killer that feels tacked on to the family drama. Silberling tries to pack Joe's torment and confusion, the grief of the parents, the romance with Bertie, her coping with the long time, unrequited loss of her boyfriend, and Ben's failing business into a package that is too neat and sometimes forced. Although the story is set in 1973, the period feel is almost nonexistent. The talents of the actors helps "Moonlight Mile" rise above its heart-on-its-sleeve writing. I give it a C+.
For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
[email protected]
[email protected]
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
