Set in 1950s Louisiana, this is a film about first crushes and true love; about the difficulties of parenthood and sibling rivalry; about when friendship teeters on the line of something deeper; about love and heartbreak. Danni, a tomboy headstrong 14 year old, feels overshadowed by her beautiful sister Maureen, but the relationship they have is close. When a new neighbour, Court Foster (sensitively played by Jason London) moves in, sisterly ties are tested. Danni moves from fantasy crushes on Elvis to her first real love; Maureen finds in Court the passion which has been missing from her previous relationships; and the Trant parents watch helplessly as their daughters grow up and apart, before being forced to come together in the face of tragedy.

Beautifully directed, the film can occasionally jolt the viewer when they least expect it (Danni's whipping, Marie's discovery in the field). I have only given it 4 stars rather than 5 because I feel the score by James Newton Howard (coincidentally he also wrote the music for 'My Girl'!) is rather cliched and sickly-sweet.

The cast is superb, even the smallest characters are well-played and beautifully drawn (Court's troublesome younger brothers, the old lady in church) and several generations of stories told in approximately one and a half hours. "The Man in the Moon" works on many different levels and is a film to be treasured.

the man in the moon
Review date: 2004-03-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

well this movie is a great movies is there a book to it i would love to read it if there is.this movie stands out to me because of thefact that i once like an older person but no that doesn't matter well he didn't die though but i felt the same as this girl dani.

A childhood memory!
Review date: 2003-09-21 Rating: 8 out of 10

I was spurred on to buy this DVD because I vaguely remembered seeing it as a child and loving it! The film tells the story of two sisters and their lives in Louisiana in the 1950's. Set against a backdrop of cute western towns and coutryside the story is rife with heartbreak, heartache, death and birth. If a little clichéd, viewers should look beyond that to a beautiful portrayal of family love and trust that will eventually prevail. Reese Witherspoon is a great as the quirky and intelligent Dani, and Jason London is a nice bit of eye-candy for those who want it! Give this film a try because it is, dare I say it, very "nice". But do be prepared to cry if you are sensitive!

A Beautiful Film
Review date: 2003-01-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

This poignant story is one of the most beautiful coming of age portraits ever filmed. It is set in rural Louisiana during the 1950's and is beautifully photographed and filled with love and tenderness. The focal point of director Robert Mulligan's (To Kill a Mockingbird, Summer of '42) story is a very young Reese Witherspoon in a role that should have made her a household name. This story of first love and the tragedy that follows will touch you in a way you'll remember for a long time.

Sam Waterson is perfect as the gentle and kind husband and father Matthew who knows his two daughters are growing up faster than he can blink and has another one on the way. Tess Harper has another fine turn as his loving wife Abigail. There is a sweet and peaceful feel to this film that gets into your heart slowly in much the same manner as "The Spitfire Grill". It is that good.

Dani (Reese Witherspoon) is the spunky but tender hearted younger sister who is beginning to cross the waters from kid to young woman at 14. Her adolescent crush on Elvis changes to something real when 17 year old Court Foster (Jason London) enters the picture. They both like to swim in the lake and become something more than friends but something less than a couple. Their relationship is handled in such a sweet and thoughtful manner you find youself embracing this film with your heart early on.

But as much as Court cares about her she is to young for him and when chance brings he and her older sister Maureen (Emily Wakefield) together nature takes it's course and someone's heart is bound to break. This is a good and loving family and Dani and her older sister Maureen are close. They bicker as sisters do but Dani secretly worships Maureen and wants to be like her. Maureen loves Dani just as much but can't pass up the love of her life no matter how hard she might try.

Court is also prtrayed as a very decent kid with the weight of the world on his shoulders who is trying to do the right thing and still be happy. Everthing about this feels real as there are no good guys and bad guys, just a truthful portrait of young love and growing up. Witherspoon is amazing and you can truly feel her heart breaking as she begins to disappear, only her memories of the lake and her first kiss to comfort her.

It will take even more than a tragedy to bring Dani and Maureen back together and it is the wise and gentle father who takes Dani fishing and talks to her in a way every father hopes he will talk to his daughter under similar circumstances. Everyone is wonderful in this fine film and I am amazed it is not more widely known. It is truly something special.

I can not reveal what happens in the last part of this film but at the beginning we find Dani and Maureen talking on their front porch about 'The Man in the Moon'. Their mother always told them when they were young to tell their troubles to 'The Man on the Moon' and just keep talking untill they were all gone. Both Dani and Maureen discover when things are bleakest that 'The Man in the Moon' is truly each other.

This film is warm, sweet, and heartrending. It is a wonderful find and different from just about anything else you will see on the subject matter. It is a film you'll want to own and watch over and over. Pick this one up today....

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