A Walk on the Moon (1999)

The world of a young housewife is turned upside down when she has an affair with a free-spirited blouse salesman.

Director:

Tony Goldwyn

Writer:

Pamela Gray

Stars:

Bobby Boriello, Diane Lane, Anna Paquin

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bobby Boriello	...	Daniel Kantrowitz
Diane Lane	...	Pearl Kantrowitz
Anna Paquin	...	Alison Kantrowitz
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Lillian Kantrowitz
Liev Schreiber	...	Marty Kantrowitz
Julie Kavner	...	P.A. Announcer (voice)
Stewart Bick	...	Neil Leiberman
Jess Platt	...	Herb Fogler
Mahée Paiement	...	Mrs. Dymbort (as Mahee Paiement)
Star Jasper	...	Rhoda Leiberman
Ellen David	...	Eleanor Gelfand
Lisa Bronwyn Moore	...	Norma Fogler
Viggo Mortensen	...	Walker Jerome
Victoria Barkoff	...	Selma Levitsky (as Vicky Barkoff)
Tamar Kozlov	...	Wendy Green

Storyline

USA, estate del 1969. L'uomo sta per passeggiare sulla Luna, la guerra in Vietnam è scoppiata, arrivano i figli dei fiori, c'è il grande concerto di Woodstock. E proprio in un campo di villeggiatura per famiglie ebree non distante da Woodstock si trovano Alison e la famiglia in vacanza. Pearl, la madre è giovane ed attraente, ma sconfitta dalla vita (è rimasta incinta al primo rapporto amoroso ed ha dato addio ai sogni per dedicarsi ai figli). Marty, il padre è assente perché occupato nella ditta di televisori in cui lavora (tutti vogliono vedere lo sbarco sulla Luna). Un giorno arriva al campo un affascinante venditore di vestitini e cianfrusaglie : per Pearl è il colpo di fulmine. Vive un'intensa storia d'amore e di passione, culminata nella fuga a Woodstock, dove è corsa anche Alison con il suo primo ragazzo. Durante il concerto la ragazzina scorge la madre con l'amante e fugge. E' una esperienza difficile da capire. Il padre torna al campo e, venuto a conoscenza di tutto, cerca di...

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Plot Keywords:

woodstock | blouse | summer | moon | salesman | 

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, language and some drug use

Details

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blouse Man

Filming Locations:

Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$78,709 (USA) (26 March 1999)

Gross:

$4,741,987 (USA) (2 July 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Punch 21 Productions, Village Roadshow Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When The Grateful Dead were invited, their manager wanted the promoters to add another act he managed; he offered them two. They tossed a coin, chose Santana, and the rest is history. There is no Santana music in this movie, but perhaps they are subtly represented by the act the promoters did NOT choose, It's a Beautiful Day, with their hit "White Bird"

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Goofs

During the scene where people are watching the moon landing, the TV image shows the Moon's surface taken from the LEM as it descends and lands. This video was not available for viewing until after the astronauts returned to Earth.

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Quotes

Marty Kantrowitz: Who is he?
Pearl Kantrowitz: You don't know him.
Marty Kantrowitz: Well what's his name?
Pearl Kantrowitz: Walker.
Marty Kantrowitz: What's his FIRST name?
Pearl Kantrowitz: That IS his first name.
Marty Kantrowitz: Well then what's his last name?
Pearl Kantrowitz: Jerome.
Marty Kantrowitz: Walker Jerome. Does he realize it's backwards? What's he do?
Pearl Kantrowitz: He's a salesman.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The producers wish to thank ... The Merchants of St-Viateur Street ...

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Connections

Features King Rat (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Helplessly Hoping"
(1969)
Written by Stephen Stills
Performed by Taxiride (as Taxi)
Courtesy of Sire Records Group

User Reviews

Houston, We Have A Problem...

The universal theme of coming to terms with the loss of youth and accepting a life of unfulfilled hopes and dreams is explored in `A Walk On the Moon,' directed by Tony Goldwyn. Diane Lane stars as Pearl Kantrowitz, a thirty-one year old mother of two, the oldest of whom, Alison (Anna Paquin), is fourteen; her husband, Marty (Liev Schreiber), is a square shooter who loves his wife and family and provides for them by working long hours in a shop repairing television sets. It's the summer of ‘69, and while on the family's extended vacation-- during which Marty must return to work for the week-- Pearl falls into discontent, and with Woodstock about to happen a mere stone's throw from the campground/resort at which they are staying, she soon succumbs to the siren's song of the ‘60s: The inhibition, freedom and free love-- all of which have been denied her since giving birth to her daughter at age seventeen. There's an honesty to Goldwyn's film, and though he captures the sense of the times in which the story is set fairly well, he nevertheless fails to elicit much sympathy for his leading lady, Lane. Perhaps it's because, though there is much about Pearl with which to identify, her story is just too familiar; her situation is far from being unique, and she has a decent, upper middle-class life, with a loving husband and two great kids. The fact that she started young and that her dreams were never realized is a shame, but it's not like she's the only one to whom such a fate has befallen. And her futile attempt at regaining her lost years comes across as somewhat shallow and decidedly unsympathetic; and without that sympathy the film sputters and finally stalls, even as Neil Armstrong is beginning his historic walk on the Moon. There's no question that Lane is attractive, and physically she fits the role of Pearl perfectly. But she simply doesn't possess the wherewithal to sell her character in this film. The emotional turmoil of what Pearl is experiencing seems restricted to the surface, and she never manages that depth of feeling that would've made the necessary connection with the audience. It's not that Lane is bad in this role, it's just that she's not that good. There are just too many gaps in credibility and too many false moments to be overlooked. It's as if the character throughout remained just beyond her grasp. Liev Schreiber, on the other hand, is outstanding as Marty. You have no trouble believing he is exactly who and what he is supposed to be. This is a character to whom most people will be able to relate, and if only Lane had been able to evoke the same kind or response as Schreiber, it would've made a tremendous difference in the overall aspect of the film. Anna Paquin gives a noteworthy performance as well, successfully capturing the angst of puberty while coping with an ever-changing world. The supporting cast includes Viggo Mortensen as Walker Jerome, the traveling salesman with whom Pearl attempts to reconcile her lost youth; Tovah Feldshuh (Lilian Kantrowitz); Bobby Boriello (Daniel); Stewart Bick (Neil); Jess Platt (Herb); Star Jasper (Rhoda) and Julie Kavner (Voice of the Social Director). There are some poignant moments in Goldwyn's film, and it does generate a certain sense of loss and longing; but overall, `A Walk On the Moon' is at best a momentary diversion that comes across like a finger painting on an impressionist's canvas. That is stays afloat at all is due mainly to Schreiber and Paquin's performances. Other than that, this is-- unfortunately-- a rather forgettable film that never quite attains the level of drama to which it aspires. I rate this one 5/10.