Moonstruck

“Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn’t know this either, but love don’t make things nice – it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren’t here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and *die*. The storybooks are *bullshit*. Now I want you to come upstairs with me and *get* in my bed!” – Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage) in MOONSTRUCK

The Italian-American Loretta Castorini, a bookkeeper from Brooklyn, has given up on love after the death of her first husband. Out of convenience, she accepts the marriage proposal of her rather boring, but safe boyfriend Johnny. When Johnny asks her to invite his estranged younger brother Ronny to the wedding, Loretta discovers that the temperamental and passionate Ronny could perhaps be her soulmate. Ronny, for his part, doesn’t have any problem with seducing Loretta, and declares his love for her every chance he gets. Pressured by those around her, Loretta has to make a decision: maybe it isn’t too late for love after all?

Cher deservedly won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in MOONSTRUCK. In addition, the movie also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and for Best Supporting Role for actress Olympia Dukakis as Cher’s no-nonsense mother. Method actor Nicolas Cage is also praised for his performance as younger brother Ronny, the role for which he could unleash the iconic Cage Rage without hesitation. But it is Norman Jewison’s direction that turns MOONSTRUCK into a modern classic and audience favourite, stringing together memorable scenes, quotes and acting performances.

MOONSTRUCK has given us the unforgettable image of Cher, who is kicking a can in the early morning, wearing a long black coat. In the background, we see the awakening Manhattan skyline. And in her heart she has allowed a new love. How beautiful life can be…