Box of Moon Light (1996)

Al Fountain, a middle-aged electrical engineer, is on the verge of a mid-life crisis, when he decides to take his time coming home from a business trip, rents a car, and heads out looking ... See full summary »

Director:

Tom DiCillo

Writer:

Tom DiCillo

Stars:

John Turturro, Sam Rockwell, Catherine Keener

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Turturro	...	Al Fountain
Sam Rockwell	...	The Kid
Catherine Keener	...	Floatie Dupre
Lisa Blount	...	Purlene Dupre
Annie Corley	...	Deb Fountain
Alexander Goodwin	...	Bobby Fountain
Dermot Mulroney	...	Wick
Mike Stanley	...	Doob
Rica Martens	...	Doris
Ray Aranha	...	Soapy
Robert Wightman	...	Dex
James Richardson	...	Taco
Stephen Dupree	...	Elwood
Eugene Wolf	...	Lyle
Reathel Bean	...	Luvven Coddle

Storyline

Al Fountain, a middle-aged electrical engineer, is on the verge of a mid-life crisis, when he decides to take his time coming home from a business trip, rents a car, and heads out looking for a lake he remembers from his childhood. But his wandering takes him into the life of Kid, a free-spirited young man who helps Al escape from the routine of everyday life and find freedom to enjoy himself.

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Plot Keywords:

pubic hair | male pubic hair | hairy chest | bare chested male | nudity | 

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Taglines:

Discover something incredible...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some nudity

Details

Country:

Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Box of Moonlight

Filming Locations:

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,500, 27 July 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$720,717, 21 September 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lakeshore Entertainment,JVC Entertainment Networks,Largo Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features wrestling from Smokey Mountain Wrestling.

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Goofs

When watching wrestling and eating hot dogs with the Kid, Al's hot dog goes from half-eaten to him taking the first bite of it back to half-eaten depending on the camera angle.

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Quotes

The Kid: [At the swimming hole] We're only wearing suits because you're here. Usually we go naked.
Purlene Dupre, Floatie Dupre: So do we.
The Kid: Well, why don't we all take our suits off, then?
Purlene Dupre: Look, peckerhead, I ain't losin' the goddamned suit.

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Alternate Versions

In a cut scene after Al leaves Circle Rent A Car, he stops for lunch at a roadside diner. He sees a little girl squirt mustard on a hot dog, which then flows backward into the bottle. The mom smacks the bottle out of her hand and yells at her for playing with it. The girl starts crying, which makes the mom yell at her. She then slaps the girl across the face. Al explains to the mom that she shouldn't do that, and she replies that she'll do whatever she wants to with her. Enraged, Al jumps up and screams at her, "Lady, you touch her again and I'll smash your face right through that window!" There is stunned silence, and Al can't believe what he did. He casually walks away, stepping on the mustard bottle.

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Connections

References The Green Berets (1968)

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Soundtracks

Cuts You Up
Written by Peter Murphy & Paul Statham
Performed by Peter Murphy
Courtesy of Beggars Banquet
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

DiCillo Takes Us On A Memorable Journey Of Discovery

We first meet Al Fountain (John Turturro) at a remote construction site in the country, where he is the foreman. Immediately, we recognize who and what he is: The Boss; obsessive and meticulous about the work, tenacious in regard to detail. At the same time, it is obvious that he is sorely lacking when it comes to his relationship with his crew. Not that he is a bad guy; neither overbearing nor abusive with his employees, he is, in fact, somewhat personable in his own way. It's just that everything in his vision is so clearly cut in black and white. In the world of Al Fountain there are absolutely no shades of gray. This is further established when he phones his wife and young son to check in and give her an update on the job. When he tells her that one of the guys has invited him to play poker that night (much to the chagrin of the rest of the crew), she is ecstatic and encourages him to go. Clearly, she loves him, but knows how he is. When he quizzes his son on his multiplication tables and the response is unacceptable, flash cards are ordered. When Dad gets home there will be another quiz. In a brilliant metaphor, we see the flash cards as they are perceived by the boy; they are huge, nearly as big as he is, Marley's chains he must carry wherever he goes without respite.

When the job is abruptly closed down, Al finds himself with some time to reflect on his life, which he uncharacteristically embraces, prompted by an incident at the poker game the previous evening. At this point the story really begins, and we follow Al on a drive through the country, which ultimately becomes a journey of self-discovery. Along the way he meets 'The Kid,' (Sam Rockwell), a charismatic, though somewhat naive young man who lives alone in the remnants of a trailer situated on a secluded parcel of land far off the beaten path. It is a lifestyle that Al, initially, simply cannot comprehend. When The Kid explains that he lives 'off the grid,' it is beyond anything Al can fathom. In the end, this movie is a textured tale of awareness and the importance of setting one's personal priorities. Extremely well presented and acted, it is touching and poignant without the unnecessary burden (in this case) of undue sentiment.

The supporting cast includes Catherine Keener, Lisa Blount, Annie Corley and Dermot Mulroney. In 'Box of Moonlight,' writer-director Tom DiCillo offers us a journey that is well worth the taking. I rate this one 9/10