Mask

It's 1978 Azusa, California. Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz) has massive facial deformities. His biker single mom Rusty (Cher) registers him into the 9th grade. He's a happy well adjusted teen who dreams of riding motorcycles with his friend around the world. She's a force of nature. He excels in school academically. The surprised principal notices his tutoring jobs and gets him a counseling job at Camp Bloomfield for the blind. He falls for blind girl Diana Adams (Laura Dern). Gar (Sam Elliott) is a fellow biker who is in love with Rusty.

This is a wonderful feel-good movie. Eric Stoltz is utterly charming. Cher is a great momma bear and Laura Dern is angelic. The puppy love is heart warming and heart breaking. The story is an inspirational tale and the actors make the movie even better.

"Mask" is truly a beautiful movie. It shows the possibilities of what courage and love can do. I cannot see the film without crying, but I always feel uplifted after watching it, and the cathartic experience of watching it stays with me for days afterwards. I love how Rocky finds someone at the school for the blind who cannot see his face but loves him for his heart. I suppose we are all looking for that. And the power of his mother's love is something that stays with you forever. Peter Bogdanovich, Cher, Eric Stoltz, and the others who participated in making this film should be very proud of the wonderful movie they created. It has affected many, many lives. The real life story of Rocky Dennis will always be there, on DVD, to enrich young generations to come.

This movie is unique. Everybody must see it. It is very sentimental, but it is not exasperated. Great Cher, great Eric Stoltz, great Sam Elliot. This movie makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you think about the lucky aspects of life and the unlucky ones. One of the most striking aspects is that good feelings are found in an environment that most people think is bad: a young ex-drug addict mother, a group of motorcyclists. I will not tell you what is Mask, I just tell you he is a normal guy except for a difference: find it by your own, you will be satisfied. Surely a good movie.

I saw this film on TV, and it really affected me, because it was so different from most of the cliche-ridden dramatic films. It didn't really fit any "genre", because the situation and characters were so different. They were truly American, bikers with a bit of bravado but underlying sensitivity and compassion, and sense of community. It makes sense that this was a true story. I thought both Stoltz and Cher did magnificent acting jobs, although Stoltz really carried the film, with his understated sense of irony and his willingness to help others, even though inflicted with such a stigma. I agree that he should have been bullied more if this was reality, yet Bogdanovich took a great risk in the superficial culture of celluloid, to devote an entire film to someone with an ugly, deformed face. Often, it was hard to look at him, and brought up questions about my own superficial judgments of people according to their appearances. I am saddened and at the same time, inspired, to hear this was a true story. Belated congratulations and thanks to all involved with this problematic, yet ultimately, encouraging, work.

This is one of those movies that makes you feel good. Despite the knowledge of Rocky's inevitable fate, you will like this film. Watching him deal with other kids' initial fear and hatred towards him because of his appearance, he eventually gets them to like and respect him. The best part is that this is based on a true story. You will love it, guaranteed.

*** 1/2 out of ****