A Walk on the Moon
| A Walk on the Moon | |
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 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Tony Goldwyn |
| Produced by | Jay Cohen Tony Goldwyn Lee Gottsegen Dustin Hoffman Neil Koenigsberg Murray Schisgal |
| Written by | Pamela Gray |
| Starring | Diane Lane Viggo Mortensen Anna Paquin Liev Schreiber Star Jasper |
| Music by | Mason Daring |
| Cinematography | Anthony B. Richmond |
| Editing by | Dana Congdon |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | April 2, 1999 |
| Running time | 107 min. |
A Walk On The Moon is a 1999 drama film starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Liev Schreiber and Anna Paquin. The movie, which was set against the backdrop of the Woodstock festival of 1969 and the moon landing of that year, was distributed by Miramax Films.
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[edit] Plot summary
Pearl Kantrowitz (Diane Lane) and her husband Marty (Liev Schreiber) are a lower middle class Jewish couple in New York City, where Marty is a television repairman. The movie begins with the couple and their family including their teenage daughter Alison (Anna Paquin) and young son Danny (Bobby Boriello) and Marty's mother Lillian (Tovah Feldshuh) going to their summer camp retreat, Dr. Folger's Bungalows, which they attend each summer.
Marty is forced to work away from home and hence, he only visits the family on weekends. This leaves Pearl feeling lonely and isolated. Pearl got pregnant at the age of 17 and she feels she missed enjoying her youth. With the absence of Marty, Pearl is attracted to the new "Blouse Man" Walker Jerome (Viggo Mortensen). Meanwhile, Alison is neglected and she experiences her first period, her first date, and her first kiss as she enters a relationship with another boy at the camp, Ross Epstein.
Marty is unable to visit the family because he has to repair more TV sets than usual, due to the impending moon landing. While the whole town celebrates the historic moonwalk, Pearl has sex with Walker. Marty's mother Lillian learns of the affair and tries to persuade Pearl to break it off. The affair continues and when Marty can't get up to visit on the weekend because of the traffic jam caused by the Woodstock festival, which is within walking distance of the bungalow colony, Pearl goes to the festival, and unbeknownst to her, Alison goes as well with Ross and her friends. Alison observes Pearl carousing with the blouse man.
Marty learns of the affair and confronts Pearl while Alison confronts her mother in an emotional scene. Pearl is forced to deal with her love of her family and her conflicting yearning for marital freedom.
Pearl finally makes her decision to stay with Marty and tells Walker she cannot go away with him. Jerome says he understands. The final scene shows Pearl and Marty dancing together, first to Dean Martin's "When You're Smiling" and then to Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze", after Marty changes the station.
[edit] Music
"More ('Ti guardero nel cuore')" -- Bobby Darin
"The Name Game" -- Lincoln Chase and Shirley Elliston
"Danke Schoen" -- Wayne Newton
"Wishin' & Hopin'" -- Dusty Springfield
"Ripple" -- The Grateful Dead
"For Your Love" -- The Yardbirds
"Sunlight" -- The Youngbloods
"Summertime" -- Janis Joplin (Big Brother and the Holding Company)
"Sally Go Round the Roses" -- The Great Society
"Today" -- Jefferson Airplane
"Embryonic Journey" -- Jefferson Airplane
"Kiss of Fire" -- Georgia Gibbs
"Cactus Tree" -- Joni Mitchell
"Who Knows Where the Time Goes" -- Judy Collins
"Town Without Pity" -- Gene Pitney & Mandy Barnett
"Uncle John's Band" -- The Grateful Dead
"Crimson & Clover" -- Tommy James and the Shondells
"Freedom" -- Richie Havens
"The Fish Cheer" -- Country Joe McDonald
"I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" -- Country Joe McDonald
"Subterranean Homesick Blues" --Bob Dylan
"White Bird" -- It's a Beautiful Day
"Israelites" -- Desmond Dekker
"When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You)" -- Dean Martin
"Purple Haze" -- Jimi Hendrix
"Follow" -- Richie Havens
"Helplessly Hoping" -- Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
"Crystal Blue Persuasion" -- Tommy James and the Shondells
[edit] Critical reception
The movie received a generally favorable reception among critics. The Rotten Tomatoes website found that 72% of critics gave the film a positive review.
Entertainment Weekly ranked it #9 on their "50 Sexiest Movies Ever" poll,[1] but the Washington Post found it 'a little too perfect and symbolically signposted for its own good'. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ "50 Sexiest Movies Ever". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20241796_17,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ Desson Howe, Washington Post April 2 1999
[edit] External links
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