Welcome back another edition of Reel Talk, a column to explore the fabulous world of movies. Each week I will dive into a new film, from classics to hidden gems, breaking down what makes them unforgettable.
“Do you love him, Loretta?”
“Ma, I love him awful.”
“Oh, God, that’s too bad.”
Spring has sprung, flowers are blooming and love is in the air. It’s only appropriate to gush about the dazzling rom-com, Moonstruck by Norman Jewison. This film embraces the imperfections and messy complications of life, while clinging onto a sense of magic nearly impossible to capture on screen.
The story follows Loretta Castorini, a Sicilian-American widow living in Brooklyn Heights. After getting engaged to the moronic Mr. Johnny Cammareri, Loretta is tasked with convincing his estranged brother Ronny to come to the wedding, while Johnny is out of the country. In a turn of events, Ronny falls madly in love with Loretta, leading to his passionate pursuit and a story overflowing with charm.
Played by the fabulous Cher, Loretta is a realist. After becoming a widow years ago, she has lost all interest in romance. Pragmatic and guarded, she keeps her emotions in check and her hair pinned up tight, a symbol of control and unwillingness to be vulnerable. Yet, as the movie progresses, Loretta’s hair transforms into a big, dark and wild mane, mirroring her awakening to love and livelihood.
Ronny, played by the dashing young Nicholas Cage, is quite a drama queen. After losing his hand and his fiancé in a freak accident in the bakery he works in, Ronny feels trapped in a universe out to get him. Hilariously enraged, he will often make statements like, “Chrissy, over on the wall, bring me the big knife. I want to cut my throat.” Now a bundle of rage, turmoil and theatrical despair, Ronny lives his life like a broken poet, cursing the world around him eternally and existentially. However, upon meeting Loretta, his brooding turns to an intense passion, exclaiming his unfiltered romance within seconds.
While these two definitely steal the show, the film is filled with wise yet humorous characters, reminiscent of the neighbor you once knew or the older man down the street who always spoke in riddles. However, these nostalgic characters are just pieces to Moonstruck’s romance. The soundtrack, a blend of familiar love songs and amorous Italian opera such as “Musetta’s Waltz,” can make anyone feel like they are strolling through New York on a summer evening, thinking back to the one that got away. The setting, a cozy Brooklyn neighborhood, is just as enchanting with its classic brownstones, warm restaurants and local shops where everybody knows everybody. This, joined with humor, banter and realistic family dynamics, forms a movie impossible to look away, as all viewers will laugh and melt together in this beautiful story.
Moonstruck teaches that love is messy, frustrating, unpredictable and surprising, and totally worth it. One doesn’t have to believe in fate, or soulmates or even cheesy romances to be “moonstruck.” Even the most pessimistic people may find themselves yearning for another. But isn’t that the beauty of it all? Love, through its many forms, has a sneaky way of getting us when we least expect it. This movie implores us to never forget this, despite the cynicism we may face.
These days, it’s easy to feel like romance is fading. I mean, when was the last time you saw a person dramatically profess their love for someone they just met? The love in Moonstruck is intense, to say the least, and maybe even silly or idealistic. Yet, this movie has this way of making viewers see the world through rose-colored glasses. It’s about time to embrace the magic around us, whether through spending time with those we love, sitting with a stranger or confronting confusing emotions. Whether we notice it or not, love, platonic or romantic, is around us all: within our families, our friends, our pets… and yes, even the moon.
