TCM Comments on Moonstruck (1987)
TLDRMoonstruck, a heartwarming 1987 comedy directed by Norman Jewison, showcases the life of an Italian-American family in Brooklyn. At its core is Loretta Castorini, portrayed by Cher, who, after a practical marriage, finds her life taking an unexpected turn when she encounters her fiancé's brother, a troubled baker played by Nicolas Cage. Cher's Oscar-winning performance and the stellar cast, including Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis, bring to life this tale of love, family, and the pursuit of happiness, set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s New York.
Takeaways
- 🎬 The script discusses the 1987 film 'Moonstruck', directed by Norman Jewison and starring Cher and Nicholas Cage.
- 🏆 Cher's performance in 'Moonstruck' won her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
- 🎭 The film is a comedy centered around an Italian-American family in Brooklyn and explores themes of love and practicality.
- 🌟 Nicholas Cage's portrayal of a troubled baker played a key role in changing the direction of the story.
- 🎥 Cher initially turned down the role due to exhaustion from back-to-back filming but was convinced by director Norman Jewison.
- 🍞 The character of Loretta Castorini, played by Cher, is a widow who is engaged to a man she doesn't love.
- 👨👩👧👦 The cast includes Vincent Gardenia as Loretta's father, Olympia Dukakis as her mother, and John Mahoney in a supporting role.
- 🏅 Olympia Dukakis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.
- 🎶 Cher's singing career is mentioned, highlighting her transition from a musical superstar to a critically acclaimed actress.
- 🗣️ Cher's Italian accent in the film was achieved through training with a voice dialect coach.
- 📈 The film was well-received by critics, who praised its authentic storytelling and the actors' performances.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the movie Moonstruck?
-The main theme of Moonstruck is the exploration of love and practicality within an Italian-American family in Brooklyn, focusing on the protagonist Loretta Castorini's journey to marry for practical reasons rather than love.
Who are the lead actors in Moonstruck?
-The lead actors in Moonstruck are Cher and Nicolas Cage, playing the roles of Loretta Castorini and her love interest, Ronny Cammareri.
Who directed Moonstruck?
-Moonstruck was directed by Norman Jewison.
For which category did Cher win an Oscar for her performance in Moonstruck?
-Cher won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Loretta Castorini in Moonstruck.
What was the profession of Loretta's fiancé in the movie?
-Loretta's fiancé, played by Danny Aiello, was a man who doesn't love her and is the brother of Ronny, the man she eventually falls in love with.
What was the challenge Nicolas Cage faced during his screen test for the role of Ronny?
-Nicolas Cage barely made it past his screen test with MGM United Artists, but Cher believed he was perfect for the role and threatened to quit if he wasn't hired.
Why did Cher initially turn down the role of Loretta in Moonstruck?
-Cher was exhausted from making back-to-back films, Suspect and The Witches of Eastwick, and originally turned down the part. However, director Norman Jewison persisted in his efforts to cast her.
What was the significance of Vincent Gardenia's character in the movie?
-Vincent Gardenia played Loretta's father, a man who owns a plumbing company and imparts wisdom about the value of money through his line 'copper pipes cost money.' He received an Oscar nomination for his performance.
Who played the role of Loretta's patient, bossy wife?
-Olympia Dukakis played the role of Loretta's patient, bossy wife, and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
What was the role of Cher in the 1980s before her Oscar-nominated performance in Silkwood?
-Before her Oscar-nominated performance in Silkwood, Cher was known more as a singing superstar rather than an actress. Her role in Robert Altman's Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean helped critics start seeing her as a serious actress.
How did Cher prepare for her role as Loretta Castorini in Moonstruck?
-Cher prepared for her role as Loretta Castorini by training with a voice dialect coach on set, which helped her perfect the Brooklyn-based Italian accent that critics praised.
Outlines
🎬 Moonstruck: A Heartwarming Tale of Love and Family
The paragraph introduces the movie 'Moonstruck' as part of the 31 Days of Oscar on TCM. It highlights the film as a celebrated comedy from the 1980s, focusing on an Italian-American family in Brooklyn. The narrative revolves around Loretta Castorini, portrayed by Cher, who is engaged to a man she doesn't love but finds her life taking an unexpected turn when she meets her fiancé's brother, played by Nicolas Cage. The paragraph also discusses the casting process, mentioning how Cher and Nicolas Cage were chosen for their roles, and touches on the director Norman Jewison's decision-making process. It emphasizes the Oscar-winning performances and script, and provides a brief overview of the supporting cast, including Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis, the latter winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡TCM
💡Oscar
💡Comedy
💡Italian-American
💡Norman Jewison
💡Sher
💡Nicholas Cage
💡Danny Aiello
💡Screenplay
💡Accent
💡Casting
Highlights
Moonstruck is one of the best comedies of the 1980s, showcasing an authentic and sweet story of an Italian-American family in Brooklyn.
Directed by Norman Jewison, the film stars Cher and Nicholas Cage as leads, with Cher delivering an Oscar-winning performance for Best Actress.
The screenplay by John Patrick Shanley also won an Oscar, highlighting the story of Loretta Castorini, a widow who is determined to live a practical life by marrying her fiancé, a man she doesn't love.
Loretta's life takes an unexpected turn when she meets her fiancé's brother, played by a tormented baker, Nick Cage.
Cher was instrumental in Cage's casting, threatening to quit if he wasn't hired, despite his difficult screen test with MGM United Artists.
Cher's casting was also not initially secure, with her exhaustion from back-to-back films nearly causing her to turn down the role.
Director Norman Jewison's appreciation for Cher and persistence led to her joining the production of Moonstruck.
Vincent Gardenia delivers a memorable performance as Loretta's father, who owns a plumbing company and teaches us the value of copper pipes.
Olympia Dukakis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Loretta's patient and understanding wife.
The ensemble cast of Moonstruck includes top-flight performances from Julie Bovasso, Lewis J. Gus, John Mahoney, and Fodor Chal.
Cher's journey to being taken seriously as an actress involved roles in films like Silkwood, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Despite not being Italian, Cher's portrayal of Loretta Castorini was praised for its authenticity and her training with a voice dialect coach.
Critics lauded Cher's performance in Moonstruck, noting her sharp comic timing and the confidence she displayed in the role.
Some critics, however, noted that Cher's Brooklyn-based Italian accent might have been slightly off.
Moonstruck's success was not an easy journey, with the casting and production involving significant deliberation and convincing.
The film's leading lady, Cher, had to be convinced of the rarity and value of a film like Moonstruck, which ultimately led to her accepting the role.
Moonstruck's impact on the cast's careers was significant, with many going on to have successful and memorable acting careers.
The film remains a beloved classic, with its unique blend of comedy, romance, and family drama set against the backdrop of Italian-American life in Brooklyn.