The Man in the Moon
The Man in the Moon
PG-13 | 30 September 1991 (USA)
The Man in the Moon Trailers

Maureen Trant and her younger sibling Dani share a strong connection, but local boy Court Foster threatens to throw their bond off balance. Dani and Court meet first and have a flirtatious rapport -- but when he meets Maureen, he falls hard and they begin a passionate affair. The new couple try to keep their love hidden from Dani, but she soon learns the truth, disavowing her sister. But a heartbreaking accident later reunites the girls.

Reviews
ada

the leading man is my tpye

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Btexxamar

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

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Spoonixel

Amateur movie with Big budget

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Baseshment

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

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Mark Turner

I remember seeing this movie long ago when it was first released to video. Yes, it's that old. At the time I remember thinking it was a good movie but it never really stuck with me for some reason. I always recalled the name and that of the young actor in the lead role but it wasn't until revisiting it just now that I was dumbstruck by the talents of this young woman. She was just 14 at the time and this was her first film. Her name is Reese Witherspoon.The movie tells the story of two sisters in 1957 farm country. Growing up together they are the best of friends with Maureen Trant (Emily Warfield) the older of the two and about to go off to college at Duke. Dani Trant (Witherspoon) is only 14 and coming out of her tomboy phase, in love with Elvis and about to become a young woman.The summer the story takes place in changes everything about the two girls. In the case of Maureen she's unsure of what her future holds, not quite certain if she should get her education or simply marry a young man and become a housewife like her mother. She has a steady beau but his constant need for something more physical than she wants to offer is a block for the two of them.Dani on the other hand still loves to jump in the nearby watering hole and spend her summer having fun when she can get away with it. Her father Matthew (Sam Waterston) wants her to start taking responsibility but her mother Abigail (Tess Harper) tells him that he must have missed that age when she was too young to run off and now is suddenly too old to have fun.The catalyst for change comes in the form of new neighbors. Mother Marie (Gail Strickland) is an old friend of the Trants. A single mother raising three boys two are at that age of being unmanageable. Her eldest Court (Jason London) at 16 is the man of the family and on his shoulders lies the farm that they've just returned to.Dani meets Court by accident before being formally introduced while swimming. The two are combative but beneath it all you can tell that she's attracted to him, something she's not quite used to and doesn't know how to deal with. An attraction between the two develops but Court knows full well he is too old for Dani. But he might be just the right age for Maureen.In the middle of this possible romantic triangle are a few other issues to deal with. First off is Abigail's pregnancy which comes into question after she trips outside in a storm trying to find Dani who ran off for a midnight swim. It's an event that nearly causes a few rifts in the family. Then there is Court trying to take on the responsibilities of a man while still in high school.Before the end of the film all issues are resolved. Those resolutions are not easy ones and much pain is involved. What is left to discover before the credits role is just who will come out unscathed? The movie is a marvel to watch on so many levels. Director Robert Mulligan draws some amazing performances from all involved. His experiences making movies like TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and SUMMER OF '42 show how capable he is and this film just proves that even more. Freddie Francis is the director of photography and he brings to life the slow buzz of bugs in the trees and the slow soft hear of summer to life with each image.All of the actors involved do a fantastic job. But most impressive is that done by Witherspoon. This is not to slight the other actors involved but the fact that this was her first film, that she went to a casting call hoping to get a minor supporting role and came away with the lead makes her performance all that more amazing. There are moments watching the film when subtle nuances in the look on her face would make you think she'd been doing this for ages. Why she was overlooked for an Oscar nomination for this performance is beyond me.Released in 1991 this movie has never found itself in heavy rotation on movie channels or talked about much. That's a shame. I found it to be one of the most touching and enjoyable films I've watched in some time. Hopefully word of mouth will help others to find this film. It deserves more attention than it's received. Witherspoon has grown to show what a formidable presence she is and this is the movie that started it all.

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HotToastyRag

If there's any director in Hollywood who deserves a crown for conquering the coming-of-age genre, it's Robert Mulligan, director of To Kill a Mockingbird and Summer of '42. His last film was The Man in the Moon, one of the most revered modern coming-of-age films. It takes place in 1957, during the summer a teenaged Reese Witherspoon's life changes forever.In Reese's first movie, she's a tomboy, but she's still adorable in her transition out of adolescence, and as she's done in almost every other film since, she melts the hearts of the audience. She stomps around in overalls and smacks her gum as if it never occurred to her to care about her appearance, but she's just as cute in those scenes as she is when she finally dolls up and tries to act like a regular teenage girl.Fourteen-year-old Reese is very close to her older sister, Emily Warfield, but clashes at times with her parents, Sam Waterston and Tess Harper, who don't seem to understand her difficult age. When a new family moves in next door, complete with three teenage boys, everything changes. Reese gets to know one of the boys, Jason London, but as time passes, her feelings grow into more than just friendship.There's a lot more to the plot, but I'd rather not spoil anything. Needless to say, there are all the classic elements to a poignant coming-of-age story, including domestic troubles, love triangles, self-discovery, tragedy, and the bonds of family. Just as in classics like My Girl, you're going to need your Kleenexes during this one. It doesn't matter whether you have issues with your dad, mom, sister, or remember a bittersweet time before you grew up, there are several scenes that will inspire tears. Reese has great chemistry with her on screen family, and I guarantee the parents in the audience will identify with Sam Waterston's protectiveness and wisdom.This one isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're in the mood for a good cry this weekend, or if you're craving a nostalgia movie with lots of Elvis Presley songs, rent The Man in the Moon.Kiddy Warning: I'd probably let my kids watch this one, but I just wanted to warn you, because everyone has different tastes, that there are some upsetting scenes and violence involving children.

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Avinash Thakur

my heart is pounding while I write this review .my first love as a young girl imagines and fall for a boy who in turn is a victim of age affected romance. many scenes struck my mind like I was living my life back in my adolescence - don't know what to do in the 1st love. a girl's perspective along a boy's is seen in a perfect way. sometime words don't describe the feelings .same is the condition with me. I say innocent love is supreme. Love should be happening without any external factor.But it is life and nothing perfect can occur here.OK now I am being 2 emotional.

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ebiros2

Not a big story, but it packs a punch. Story about two sisters, and a boy in late '50s countryside farm. Dani (Rheese Whetherspoon) has an older sister who's smart, and beautiful. One day she meets Court (Jason London) , a young man who was recently hired at her father's farm at her property's river while she was swimming au natural. First she doesn't like his brash demeanor, but slowly warms up to him. Then her sister starts to take interest in him too.I've never seen Rheese Whetherspoon so beautiful. This was her early career masterpiece. The movie is shot beautifully. Every scene is vivid, and worth the watch just for the beauty of the countryside scenery.IMO Court had no business playing the two sisters, although it was probably unintentional on his part. Teenage hormones takes the story for the ride. In the end it had a price on him.Stick to the first girl that loves you seems to be the message of this movie. I would have loved to see the two go off on to a bright future.

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