0
0
Oscar winners typically fit into a pretty standard box. The Academy loves its period dramas (like .nightsandweekends.com/articles/10/NW1000520.php>The King’s Speech) and its films about oppressed, exploited, or similarly troubled characters. It’s rare to find a chick flick in Oscar mix—but, in 1988, director Norman Jewison’s Brooklyn-based romantic comedy, Moonstruck, managed to defy Oscar odds to take home three awards.
One of the big winners, Cher, stars as Loretta Castorini, a widowed bookkeeper who lives with her boisterous Italian family in Brooklyn. When her boyfriend, Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), proposes, she decides that she needs to do it right this time—with a real church wedding. As Johnny leaves to care for his dying mother in Sicily, he has just one request: that she invite his estranged younger brother.
Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage) still blames his brother for the loss of his hand—and, consequently, the love of his life—so he’s not exactly eager to attend Johnny’s wedding. Still, Loretta is persistent, visiting the family’s bakery to try to change his mind. But instead of changing his mind about Johnny, Ronny falls madly in love with Johnny’s bride-to-be—and Loretta finds herself torn between following her head and following her heart.
Moonstruck may not be the typical Oscar winner, but it’s a quirky little chick flick gem—with an award-worthy cast and a clever script. Oscar-winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley (who received another Oscar nomination for 2008’s Doubt) may not be Italian, but he captures the dynamics of this traditional Italian family in the most amusing of ways. With three generations living under the same roof—and various other relatives constantly finding their way to the Castorinis’ kitchen—there’s always someone there to gossip, complain, or give unsolicited advice. And it’s often the lively family dynamics (and their amusing conversations) that make Moonstruck such a charming film.
Still, the film wouldn’t be quite as entertaining without a stellar cast to play its lovably eccentric characters. Though Cher has never been known as a wallflower, she’s surprisingly (and appropriately) subdued as the sensible bookkeeper who’s determined to do the right thing and marry the right man—whether or not she’s actually in love with him. Instead, it’s Cage (who’s nearly two decades her junior) who gives the relationship its wacky energy. He’s as over-the-top as ever as the one-handed baker—and his character isn’t developed as well as he could have been—but his melodramatic performance fits the film’s slightly off-kilter personality. Throw in Oscar-winning supporting actress Olympia Dukakis as Loretta’s sarcastic Italian mother and Vincent Gardenia as her outspoken father, and you’ve got a film full of perfectly outrageous characters.
It’s definitely strange to find a romantic comedy on the list of the Academy’s favorites—but this delightfully chatty chick flick is deserving of the honor. Pick up a copy for your next movie night with the girls, and you’re sure to get caught up in the family comedy and unlikely amore.
Blu-ray Review:
The Blu-ray release of this Oscar-winning chick flick classic comes complete with a handful of tasty extras—including Pastas to Pastries, in which host Mark DeCarlo takes viewers on a foodie’s tour of the markets, restaurants, and gelato stands of New York’s Little Italy.
The disc also includes a making-of feature, Moonstruck: At the Heart of an Italian Family, which discusses the entire filmmaking process, from screenwriting to Oscar night, and a discussion about the Music of Moonstruck with composer Dick Hyman—along with a theatrical trailer and a commentary track with Cher, director Norman Jewison, and writer John Patrick Shanley.
The features offer a little bit of something for every fan’s taste. While fans of Italian food (and New York) will enjoy Pastas to Pastries, though, I recommend starting with the making-of feature. At around 25 minutes long, it’s not a quick feature, but it offers a fascinating look at the cast, the characters, and the personalities involved in making this entertaining romcom.
