Box of Moonlight

Tom diCillo's most succesful film is the also great 'Living In Oblivion', but 'Box Of Moonlight' is my favorite one. This movie is really excellent, among all the films that deserved success but didn't get it, this film is the one that deserved it the most, a real life experience. Probably John Torturro best part ever and of his best performances too. This is his best film since Miller's Crossing (91, by Coen Bros.). If you wanna see a real masterpiece, go check this one out and, I bet, you'll remember it for the rest of your life.

I suppose I have the right sex, the right age and the right background to absolutely love this movie. It is full of beautiful pictures, romantic and humorous scenes. The balance between dream and reality is aptly kept, the use of colour is deliberate and aesthetically sound (green and shades of blue predominate), the soundtrack is memorable and supports the pictures very well. Box of Moon Light has a pleasant slow pace, and all is well orchestrated into a good, coherent story and a single statement: You have to look for the poetic side of life wherever you are, in whatever situation you find yourself in.

All characters are three dimensional: John Turturro is simply brilliant (the quality of his performance here equals the one he gave in Quiz Show) as the conscientious, morally uptight middle class Mr. Everyman who is sent to a nowhere place in the rolling hills of Tennessee on a futile mission. Sam Rockwell is equally well cast in his role of a totally carefree present day Huckleberry Finn/Davy Crockett who rules supreme in his own little junk-kingdom. Catherine Keener was certainly never lovlier than here. She plays a shy girl from the backwoods and is surprisingly convincing in that role.

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

Director Tom DiCillo has all the attributes required for a top indie film maker. He displays a sharp humorous edge coupled with an all round smartness. But his advantage over his peers is that his works are permeated with a genuine and very winning romanticism (realized best in "Real Blonde").

The premise of "Box of Moonlight" is indeed a romantic one. Two complete opposites who by all accounts would steer clear of each other are instinctively drawn together when destiny wills a chance encounter. They will learn important life lessons from each other and part the richer. It is in effect a delightful spin on the buddy movie.

John Turturro and Sam Rockwell are the least likely buddies one could imagine. Turturro plays the rigid, time obsessive and orderly engineer against Rockwell's wild, irresponsible back to nature outcast. Turturro's Al Fountain senses much is not well in his life and subconsciously perceives that Rockwell's "The Kid" might just be what he is so much in need of; someone to release those parts of his personality which adulthood and its encumbering responsibilities has suffocated. "The Kid" indeed accomplishes this in a variety of ways including coaxing Al to reach his inner child in the wonderful tomato throwing scene and luring him into an touching adolescent one night stand with Floatie played beautifully by Catherine Keener, a DiCillo favorite. By the end of the movie Al will return home a far better husband and father.

Just how Rockwell's "The Kid" will be effected is less clear. He is clearly a severely deluded character functioning more as a symbol rather than a credible person. In lesser hands it could have come off ludicrous, but Rockwell nails it perfectly in what would be his break through role. There's a palpable chemistry between the buddies which is so vital for making this story work.

"Box of Moonlight" is a modern day fable, a cautionary tale reminding us not to allow adulthood smother us. It's a tale told with tremendous charm and a movie to be cherished.

Sam Rockwell is an excellent actor. He also does not shy away from quirky roles that require liberal use of nudity. Just as in "Lawn Dogs," Sammy shows it all in "Box of Moonlight." The film is really an actor's showcase for John Tuturro too. He is perfect as the socially inept engineer who is "shown the (moon) light" by Rockwell. One can quibble about the choices the two characters make on their road to emotional "freedom," but the movie is charming none-the-less, and a nice companion film to "Lawn Dogs" in its depiction of life in south central America. This is an "Adult Fable," So suspend your need for action, and discover you have new needs: for character development, for dialog, for symbolism, for magic.