Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie - Great Soundtrack
Review: This is a good rental - I wish there was a soundtrack.
Rating: 
Summary: Well done, but...
Review: This is a well done illustration of grief but it falls short. Susan Sarandon & Dustin Hoffman illuminate the story beautifully but they don't get enough screen time. Some of their dialogue is wonderfully poignant but they stop too soon. "In The Bedroom" portrayed the real essence of grief almost without words, the magnificient acting - faces & body language spoke volumes. This story screamed for more..... What's the significance of the title? "Moonlight Mile"... Why the 1973 setting? Why the tie-in of Viet Nam without more substance? I left the theater wanting more than a surface telling which is where I felt the writer dropped it. It held the potential for so much more. Just when Susan Sarandon began to let loose and reveal her inner agonies, just when the truth began to unveil the depth of sadness, the momentum slowed and the watcher was cheated of what could have been a glimpse into the realities of what losing a precious daughter might be like. I applaud the efforts but wanted so much more!
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing on many levels
Review: This one hit me in the gut like an emotional two-ton heavy thing. Great storyline, great actors, great music, great setting, great everything... This film deals with subject matter common to most of us, but then spins it out in a way where suddenly we are looking in the mirror and our own lives make more sense. And that's all anyone can ask from a film, yet so very few films are able to achieve this level of communication. This is what the art is all about.Hoffman and Sarandon gave excellent performances, and contrary to what many other reviews may say, Jake Gyllenhaal was very good. His courtroom scene was powerful, and at other times the lack of connection or the "forced acting" that many reviewers said Gyllenhaal exhibited was genius and... dare I say it, calculated? In fact, Jake's performance fit perfectly. The lack of sincerity that you feel as a viewer fits right in with the themes of the film dealing with honesty, being true to yourself, and true to others. Think of Jake's character in relation to his dead fiancee as well as with her parents - he was heading into a life that wasn't him. The emotional effect leaves viewers feeling awkward and uncomfortable through much of it, but again, I believe this was all very calculated because it sets the stage for emotional contrast when honesty peeks its head through the door. This was something that not even "In the Bedroom" could achieve. There are glimpses of emotion and thoughts in this film that I have never seen before in cinema, as well as delicious writing in a few spots. I'll remember this one for a long time to come...
Rating:
Summary: Superb Acting - Wonderful, Entertaining, Emotional & Funny
Review: Three Academy Award winners is a good start but doesn't guarantee a good movie, but in this case they are all well cast in their roles. And writer-director Brad Silberling brings a real understanding to the subject, since his girlfriend was murdered several years ago. This movie is not about murder, but rather about how such an event impacts the lives of those closest to the victim. It deals with the complex emotions that result, including the truly comedic aspects that can often help those invovled regain their equilbrium. Diana Floss was murdered shortly before her planned wedding to Joe (Jake Gyllenhaal), and he decides to remain in town living with her parents Ben (Dustin Hoffman) and Jo Jo (Susan Sarandon) to help them deal with their shock and grief. He apparently is unsure what direction his life will now take, and Ben and Jo Jo are having trouble with their own relationship without the bond of their daughter as the focus of their lives. We soon find that in addition each of the three of them is dealing with the guilt which they individually feel because of recent events concerning their relationships with Diana. They also have to deal with the murder trial of the gunman, whose wife and his intended target awakens from her coma as the trial is about to start. Holly Hunter's performance as the tough, singleminded prosecutor who needs Joe's testimony "to bring Diana to life" in the courtroom is first rate. Ellen Pompeo is also wonderful as Burtie, the mail clerk and parttime waitress whose uncertainty about her future provides Joe some insight into his own psyche. Lastly, for dog lovers such as myself, Diana's dog Nixon had a part that was much too small but both funny and a welcome addition to the story. This is a thoughtful movie about the serious issues that usually face us upon the unexpected death of a loved one, but it is done with understanding and comedy and is not at all either depressing or tedious. In fact, the upbeat ending is an affirmation of the joy of life and the promise of the future. I left the theatre marveling that a movie about death, grief and guilt could be so enjoyable and downright hilarious at times.
Rating:
Summary: Should have been better
Review: With some great actors on board, a character-driven film like "Moonlight Mile" can be a stunning achievement. But the lynchpin, of course, is the script, and here "MM" falls short. The film is overwritten and unfocussed. Minor elements of the plot (notably the real estate venture) are unnecessary contrivances, and Jake Gyllenhaal's Joe gets a couple of big moments toward the end that fall completely flat. The film seems to want to be about Joe, but never comfortably settles into his perspective. Other reviewers have pointed out the thematic similarities to "In the Bedroom," and "MM" pales in comparisson to the smaller, better film. Much of "Bedroom's" emotional power is conveyed through silences and small talk. "MM" talks too much, tries to hard. The film does have its strong suits. Speaking as someone who lost a family member this summer, "MM" does a fine job depicting the absurdities of grief rituals and the conflicted emotions they can inspire. Wearing his director's hat, Silberding displays a fine eye for detail.
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