The Man in the Moon (1991)

WOW what a film debut for the 14 year old at that time Reese! No wonder why she was cast for one of the leading roles and not for the extras she auditioned for... Her acting on the film explains her later took off in Hollywood. I think though that her recent movies don't do her justice.. Overall, a good film, with pretty scenery and good photography. Other than Reese and Mr Waterston, the rest of the cast is ok and so is the plot.

Set in Louisiana during the summer of 1957, this is an absolutely wonderful and often deeply moving film concerning young love, unrequited love and sisterhood. Far from being the best years of your life, your teenage years can be the longest, the most confusing and sometimes the most difficult years of your life. The perfect script by Jenny Wingfield is beautifully written and almost painfully authentic in depicting that. There is not a false note in the entire film and the characters always seem like real people. The title refers to the two sisters' practice of telling their problems to the Man in the Moon when they were little girls and their wish that life was still that simple. The direction by Robert Mulligan, in his final film, is fantastic. He was perhaps the best possible choice to handle this material, given that he previously directed two other excellent period coming of age dramas: "To Kill a Mockingbird" (my second favourite film of all time) and "Summer of '42".In her first film appearance, Reese Witherspoon gives a brilliant performance as Dani Trant, a 14-year-old tomboy who discovers the pain of growing up. She is so wonderfully natural. Witherspoon was 14 herself at the time that the film was made and I think that this added to the realism of the film. Dani is fiercely intelligent, tough, brave, headstrong and independent but she is not as grown up as she thinks she is, as is the case with most people her age. Although she initially dislikes her 17-year-old neighbour Court Foster - played in a great performance by the underrated Jason London - as he kicked her out of the previously abandoned pond on his property, he soon becomes the subject of her first proper crush, even displacing her beloved Elvis Presley in her affections. Dani likes to act as if she knows it all but she has no experience when it comes to boys and seeks the advice of her 17-year-old sister Maureen, played very well by Emily Warfield, on how to kiss a boy. Maureen has a very idealistic view of love and previously told her date - and attempted date rapist - Billy Sanders that it should be beautiful. The sisters have a very close relationship and the two tell each other everything. Well, almost.Over time, Dani and Court become very good friends and she falls in love with him. He even gives her her first kiss in a lovely little scene by the pond. However, when he meets Maureen, they hit it off immediately and Dani is extremely hurt, particularly since Court becomes very distant. As a loving older sister, Maureen is concerned that Dani may have gotten the wrong idea from Court, who insists that the two of them were only "real close buddies" instead of boyfriend and girlfriend. When you're talking about 14 and 17, a three year age gap can seem like a lifetime and the film does a superb job in this respect. Court and Maureen eventually fall in love. Their happiness is short-lived, however, as Court is killed in a terrible farming accident. Both girls are understandably extremely upset by his death. Dani continues to blame Maureen for "stealing" Court and refuses to even look at her after the funeral. At the instigation of their father, however, Dani puts it behind them and comforts Maureen at Court's grave, thereby re-establishing and perhaps even strengthening their very close bond.In one of his trademark quiet, dignified and deeply charismatic performances, Sam Waterston is brilliant as Dani and Maureen's father Matthew Trant. The girls have had a strict upbringing but, unlike in lesser, poorly written films, this is because their father loves them and wants to protect them as opposed to merely being an ass because it says so in the script. He is the sort of father who does not say a great deal but, when he does, it is worth listening to. One of the film's most upsetting moments features Matthew hitting Dani with his belt. He did so as she went out after dark to go swimming with Court, which led to her very worried and very pregnant mother Abigail to trip over a tree-stump and be hospitalised with a concussion. He is filled with remorse afterwards and he fears that he may have permanently damaged his relationship with Dani. However, after several days, she forgives him and tells him that she does not blame him for doing so as he was upset and angry. Hitting children is always a tricky issue to deal with on screen but I think that the film dealt with it in the best way possible. Abigail's injuries may have been the reason for Matthew's behaviour but they are not an excuse for it as such behaviour is inexcusable. The film is too well written to say something this blatantly unsubtle outright but this is communicated through the characters' dialogue and interactions. I am convinced that Matthew will never raise a hand to one of his children again and will regret hitting Dani for the rest of his life. The film also features very good performances from Tess Harper as the likewise strict but loving Abigail, Gail Strickland as Court's mother Marie, Bentley Mitchum (Robert's grandson) as Billy Sanders and Ernie Lively as his incredibly pervy father Will Sanders.Overall, this is a fantastic film which treats its subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity, seriousness and respect. While it is set in the Deep South in the 1950s, its themes are universal and the general thrust of the storyline would have probably remained the same if it had been set in any time or place or made in any language for that matter. I have never related to another coming of age story involving girls as much as I related to this one.

I saw this on netflix the other night and i kind of was glad I read about the movie before i watched it so I had an idea what direction the film went in. Its a coming of age film about growing up and love. This movie has little Reese Witherspoon in her first movie role - who does an amazing job as Danni , she was great everything about her ! She fit the part and fit in with the cast wonderfully . So did Jason London as Court it was great seeing them two bond and have feelings for one another. The relationship changes goes up and down throughout the whole film ( this was shown swell ! ) Im not going to spoil what happens but I will say that for me , The movie was sad not were i cried during the movie but just the next day my stomach and head felt upset by it. I would also say read the plot before you see this movie because it will help you deal with what happens. The film made me smile / laugh / feel upset and intrigued me. Everyone was a teenager at some point who had a first crush that felt like it never ended - Witherspoon shined I mean before this movie i kinda just saw her as a pretty face however she had skills and deserves credit !! I have to watch more of her films to see if she continues her skills !!! I will never forget her as Danni = the only little note i would say is i agree with some people that Danni and Court should have had a better ending rather then Court and her sister.

A nice little gem. Every word of it. It is a small picture and it was nice. There ! Idyllic country scene and superb cinematography makes this movie very watchable. It is amazing that Witherspoon probably did her finest dramatic work the first time out. From the first look on, Witherspoon's Danny was absorbing and real. You could understand her. Perhaps you have a niece that went through similar experience, perhaps you were her in your adolescent years. Fine example of art imitating life. Jason London, the subject of her adolescent love, was also excellent in his role. Sam Waterston as the father in rural town showed perfect nuance of characters in that era. The only miscast was Tess Harper,who was wooden. It might not be her fault as there were hardly any lines written for her role even though it was a woman's screenplay. Overall very touching and we got the resolution we expect in the end.