Perspective & “Moonstruck”: A Contemplation

Posted: January 14th, 2025 | Filed under: Cinema, Culture, Ruminations, Today's Lesson Learned | 1 Comment »

Yet again, I am struck by how one’s personal situation, health, station in life, sense of well being, all that personal stuff affects one’s perception.

It’s a significant thing to keep in mind.

Whether it’s how we hear a new song.

Or meet someone new.

Or watch a film.

Chasing down some rabbit hole or another recently I came upon a review of a movie written by the same guy who penned the screenplay to “Moonstruck.”

John Patrick Shanley.

The review shredded the film in question — forgot the title already — and wondered how Shanley, who was masterful in crafting “Moonstruck” could have been so off his feed.

Which reminded me of my reaction to the Cher/ Nicholas Cage comedy romance when I saw it upon release in ’87.

Which was luke warm.

Certainly didn’t hate it. Didn’t consider it a bad film by any stretch. Recall just feeling, OK this is nice, but don’t get all the hosannas being tossed its way.

So I went to Roger Ebert’s review of the acclaimed flick. It was so adoring. 4 of 4 stars. Figured it was time for a revisit.

So glad I did.

Funny. Sweet. Romantic. Knowing. Certainly well penned. Universally well acted. Olympia Dukakis deserved her statuettes.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

But wondered where I was at personally, what my state of mind might have been walking in the theater that I wouldn’t have been as enthralled upon first watch as my recent streaming of it?

Curious.

Have no answer.

But it allowed me an excuse for another cinema-centric contemplation here. Thanks for indulging me.

I’m reminded of a couple of other movie reactions, which were different (or not) after a second viewing.

The most startling was Tom McGuane’s “92 in the Shade” which had a totally different ending when streamed than when I saw it at the Vogue.

I stared at the screen with my mouth agape.

Then there’s Ken Russell’s “The Devils.” I was entranced by Russell’s quirky films. He did “Tommy.” This ’71 film stars Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, and is set in Richelieu era France and is about obsessive religious zealots and witchcraft and a sexually repressed nun.

So grisly was it, I walked out 30-45 minutes in.

Life’s too short, I’m so sure was the admonishment I made to myself.

A good while later, for whatever reason, I thought it worthy to give the movie a second chance when it was streaming.

That time, I lasted about ten minutes.

I was correct the first time, I said to self, life’s too short.

When double checking the basic facts for this piece, there was a trailer at IMdb.com. So, I watched, after confirming my age given the content. (About which I lied but only by a couple of years and months.)

Lasted 41 seconds.

Sometime one’s perspective is totally in line with one’s character and world  view.

There’s another film I reacted to differently second time around. But in a totally different way. For a totally different reason.

It’s my favorite movie. Literally.

“Body Heat.”

Saw it in late ’81 when it was released. Maybe early ’82.

Loved it. But didn’t understand the ending. The scene when William Hurt gets Mattie Walker’s yearbook sent to him, after everything goes down. (Don’t want to give any specifics. Maybe you haven’t seen it. My highest rec. Available to stream for four bucks at Amazon Prime.)

Well, in December of ’82 I saw it again at the Minneapolis Rehab Center where I was in treatment for my cocaine addiction. I laughed when the credits rolled, realizing that I’d been so messed up when I saw it during the last crazy daze of my usage. That’s why I couldn’t comprehend the denouement.

So, yeah, perspective.

Clear headedness helps.

So too being in a comfortable personal space.

“Moonstruck.” “Body Heat.” “92 in the Shade.”

Stream ’em if you haven’t viewed before. Or, even if  have once upon a time. (If you watch the McGuane flick, send me an email with the ending, what happens between Warren Oates’ and Peter Fonda’s characters.)

“The Devils.”

Fuhgettaboutit.

— c d k

 

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