Kate's Film Club: Moonstruck
by Kate Pop Culture Valentine's Day
This Valentine's Day season, our resident film buff 💪Kate Corcoran is exploring rom-coms of the past. There will be meet-cutes, there will be pratfalls, and of course... outfits!
Cher in THE iconic Bob Mackie gown she wore to accept her Oscar for Moonstruck - 1988 // Getty
Norman Jewison
Streaming on: The Criterion Channel.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I love nothing more than an Italian-American movie that does not involve the mob!!! This movie is important to my culture!
Loretta (Cher) is a 37-year-old widow who sleepwalks through life. She lives with her parents and grandfather and is a bookkeeper at a flower shop. Loretta has a boyfriend, Johnny (Danny Aiello), who’s not very good-looking, appears a decent bit older, and doesn’t have much personality. He asks for her hand in marriage, and she agrees – but there is no love.
"Let’s just say that Nicholas Cage is very Nicolas Cage."
Loretta meets Johnny’s estranged brother, Ronny (Nicholas Cage). Ronny is the opposite of Johnny – he’s young and passionate. He’s also oddly sexy, but I’m sort of embarrassed to admit that. When they meet, Ronny is like a wild animal. He’s screaming, sweating, throwing objects, and waving around his prosthetic hand while blaming his brother for all his issues. Let’s just say that Nicholas Cage is very Nicolas Cage. Honestly, Ronny is a bit scary, but I always chalk that kind of stuff up to Italians just being passionate people. Loretta comes to life when she meets Ronny, and immediately sleeps with him.
"Personally, I believe in flirting. I think it’s fun and normal and the spice of life!"
So much of this film is about cheating and flirting. Some of the circumstances are warranted, while others are confusing and hurtful. Moonstruck explores love and lust, marriage and affairs, spouses and mistresses. Personally, I believe in flirting. I think it’s fun and normal and the spice of life! Especially when you’ve been partnered for a long time, it kind of makes you feel alive in a way that used to be so familiar. I think there’s a firm and thick line between flirting and cheating. It’s easy to get carried away and cross the line – but it’s best not to. Flirting is better. Less mess for all.
I really want to give credit to the casting director. Who thought that Cher and Nicholas Cage, with their 18 year age gap, would actually make *the most* iconic and magnetic rom-com pair? A true master of their craft! There is a scene where Loretta and Ronny are at the opera and Ronny softly takes Loretta’s hand. She lets him, and then he slowly lifts her hand to his lips and quietly kisses it – ohhh my god, it’s so hot. The moral of Moonstruck, honestly, is that you should cheat because it’ll all work out! But I recommend you stop at flirting!!!
The 80s NYC visuals:
-What is that cap that Loretta has on her tooth? I want one!
-Old school catholic church looks are always kinda chic.
-All the 80s opera dresses! Women used to don sequins in a way that just doesn’t happen anymore. Sad.
-Cher’s walk of shame look is better than my going out look.
Final Rating
She’s from ‘87 and I’m giving this classic an 87/100 pinky rings! 💍
To read all of Kate’s wildly deep and complex reviews, follow @katecorcoran on Letterboxd!
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