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Moonlight Mile

  • 2002
  • PG-13
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon, and Jake Gyllenhaal in Moonlight Mile (2002)
As he copes with the death of his fiancée, a young man befriends her parents and must figure out what he wants out of life.
Play trailer2:28
1 Video
99 Photos
Dark ComedyTragedyDramaRomance

As he copes with the death of his fiancée, a young man befriends her parents and must figure out what he wants out of life.As he copes with the death of his fiancée, a young man befriends her parents and must figure out what he wants out of life.As he copes with the death of his fiancée, a young man befriends her parents and must figure out what he wants out of life.

  • Director
    • Brad Silberling
  • Writer
    • Brad Silberling
  • Stars
    • Jake Gyllenhaal
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Susan Sarandon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Brad Silberling
    • Writer
      • Brad Silberling
    • Stars
      • Jake Gyllenhaal
      • Dustin Hoffman
      • Susan Sarandon
    • 154User reviews
    • 69Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:28
    Official Trailer

    Photos99

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    + 94
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    Top cast64

    Edit
    Jake Gyllenhaal
    Jake Gyllenhaal
    • Joe Nast
    Dustin Hoffman
    Dustin Hoffman
    • Ben Floss
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    • Jojo Floss
    Alexia Landeau
    Alexia Landeau
    • Cheryl
    Richard Messing
    • Rabbi
    Lev Friedman
    • Cantor
    Bob Clendenin
    Bob Clendenin
    • Server #1
    • (as Robert Clendenin)
    Jim Fyfe
    Jim Fyfe
    • Server #2
    Mary Ellen Trainor
    Mary Ellen Trainor
    • Mrs. Meyerson
    Richard Fancy
    Richard Fancy
    • Mr. Meyerson
    Marcia Mitzman Gaven
    Marcia Mitzman Gaven
    • Fashion Plate
    Allan Corduner
    Allan Corduner
    • Stan Michaels
    Holly Hunter
    Holly Hunter
    • Mona Camp
    Careena Melia
    • Diana Floss
    Gary Hetzler
    • Speedwalker
    Ellen Pompeo
    Ellen Pompeo
    • Bertie Knox
    Edward Lachman
    Edward Lachman
    • Photographer
    • (as Ed Lachman)
    Gordon Clapp
    Gordon Clapp
    • Tanner
    • Director
      • Brad Silberling
    • Writer
      • Brad Silberling
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews154

    6.615K
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    Featured reviews

    Li-1

    Great performances highlight Moonlight Mile.

    *** out of ****

    While not quite a great movie (it just barely misses the mark), Moonlight Mile is still an excellent drama that showcases some of the finest acting talent around, wrapped amidst a beautifully told story of a young man (Jake Gyllenhaal) who's trying to do what everyone expects out of him, but against the desire of following his own heart.

    Moonlight Mile plays as a cathartic experience. The premise bears truth to it, as it parallels writer/director Brad Siberling's own real-life experience when his girlfriend was murdered by an obsessive fan. But most importantly, almost every part of this movie feels natural in its emotions and storytelling, not the result of some sentimental hackjob put together by a big studio. Siberling's intent is to portray a normal family dealing with life, loss, and love and whatever obstacles may come their way and he does a fine job of it.

    There are moments Moonlight Mile doesn't entirely ring true, but those moments are glossed over by the acting. From Gyllenhaal to Ellen Pompeo to Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon, the cast is uniformly superb. Even though the climax is set in a courtroom (typically the setting for cliche hell in dramas), Gyllenhaal's emotional outpour makes the scene work almost magnificently.

    An admittedly very irksome element of the film is the score, which is yet again another rip-off of the music to American Beauty. Moonlight Mile's straightforward, honest approach doesn't match the quirky tone of the score, resulting in a few off-kilter moments of balance. But otherwise, this is a first-rate, truthful drama, and certainly superior to the overrated and similary themed In the Bedroom.
    8us3

    An underrated masterpiece.

    "Moonlight Mile" is one of the most beautiful films ever to be made. Highlighted by phenomenal performances by Hoffman, Sarandon and Hunter, the film is truly inspiring, despite some overly-sentimental moments.

    Brad Silberling has created an amazing piece of film. The story starts out quite shakily, but manages to quickly find its feet and, thus, saves itself from being another overly-indulgent, kitchy movie. Some might battle with "Moonlight Mile"'s pace, as the film takes its time in developing its characters. However, the film is character-driven and these developments are fundamental to the film's progression.

    Holly Hunter's performance is Oscar worthy, even though her role is quite small. Judi Dench won an Oscar for her 8 minute performance in "Shakespeare in love" and I see no reason why Hunter should not have been nominated. Amongst a cast of film legends, Jake Gyllenhaal holds his ground. It is obvious that he has had less experience in the acting field, but his performance is still great. Gyllenhaal's climatic monologue near the end of the film will give you goosebumps. It is the best part of the film and in my opinion one of the best scenes in cinema history.

    In a film about one of the most life-changing, traumatic experiences one can endure, subtlety rules. Little things drive the film and the characters in the film begin to appreciate the smaller things in life. And that's what makes the film so beautiful and so real. The subtlety of the comedy and romance is what makes the drama that much more bearable - which brings us back to the films central theme: coming to terms with loss and trying to move on from it. These beautiful little moments are what make the film.

    One might have mistaken "Moonlight Mile" for a Cameron Crowe film as music plays a vital part. The film's music is as evocative as the action on screen and the film's epic moments are emphasised by the films perfectly fitted music.

    This film has been overlooked and underrated, and should have received more credit. Silberling has crafted an outstanding piece of cinema, which is rich with emotion and evocatively inspiring. Some cynics may find the film too sentimental and will claim they predicted the entire movie, but if one is able to ignore the odd mushy moment (there's one or two), "Moonlight Mile" is a cinematic triumph. Treat yourself to this amazing film!
    7rbverhoef

    Great acting is enough

    This is a very well acted movie that deals with a sudden loss in a family in a better way than I would expect. The movie avoids the usual clichés and through some very strong performances shows us how it could really be. The dead person is the daughter of Ben (Dustin Hoffman) and Jojo (Susan Sarandon), her fiancé named Joe (Jake Gyllenhaal) is now living with them. The girl was murdered, simply because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now Ben and Joe go into business together and the all try to live on in their own ways. Joe befriends a girl named Bertie Knox (Ellen Pompeo) who also has lost someone.

    Like I said the subject is handled in a very good way. May be the movie makes some easy choices, especially near the end, but the acting is so good and real here that the movie is easily forgiven. Gyllenhaal plays the same kind of part as he did in 'Donnie Darko' and 'The Good Girl', not the most happy one. He has the best single scene, although overall veterans Hoffman and Sarandon are as good as he is. The best thing though is Ellen Pompeo. Her character has a certain sweetness and nice way of dealing with things and Pompeo finds the perfect note for playing this part. See it for the acting and you will find a lot more.
    8Travis_Bickle01

    Surprisingly good indie with an amazing cast

    When I first started watching this movie I was a bit confused. I had expected some drama and romance, but instead it looked like a comedy! But when I kept watching, I realised I was wrong, although I have to admit that the first half an hour is rather comedy than drama.

    Anyway, "Moonlight Mile" is highly enjoyable. What exactly makes this movie so great? It's the acting. The cast is outstanding. Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman are truly amazing as always. Jake Gyllenhaal, who we know from "Donnie Darko", was excellent as well. But, like I already said, Hoffman and Sarandon are the true stars in this one. They were both so funny from time to time! "Moonlight Mile" is definitely worth watching! A true indie with great performances!

    8/10
    7carr-6

    A lovely mix of everything!

    I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.

    There is so much not to like about this movie - Susan Sarandon overdoes the cool mom bit, they use each others' names all the time, Dustin Hoffman shuffles about like Rainman in several scenes, the love story is rather improbable, the ending too perfectly happy happy, Jake tends to have one expression through the whole movie and you don't realise it is in the 70's until they start talking about Vietnam. It also bothered me for some reason that Jake wore the same pants throughout.

    BUT I loved it loved it loved it. It is funny, sad, happy and has so many great actors in it (plus animals). The soundtrack is fantastic. Jake has the funny scene at the table and the serious scene in court - must have been a dream role to play. Jake has really been good about varying his roles which must be hard when you fit the stereotypical young hunk role. I think the dancing scene and the love scene are absolutely beautiful and show affection and the need for affection more than sex which is rare - the music is perfectly matched to both these scenes. I am glad they chose a plainer, quirkier leading lady - Ellen Pompeo does it amazingly well (though watching her in Grey's she always seems to play the same character). She is 11 years older than Jake though and he seemed like a teenager in the movie so I was confused as to whether she was supposed to be so much older in the movie.

    It is not the best movie I have ever seen but it was way way better than I thought it would be and I was surprised that it sank without a trace at the time.

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    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Loosely inspired by writer and director Brad Silberling's own experience. He was dating Rebecca Schaeffer at the time she was killed by an obsessed fan in 1989.
    • Goofs
      Massachusetts did not have the death penalty in the early '70s.
    • Quotes

      Joe Nast: I'm sorry, I can't, I can't do this. It didn't happen. We loved each other, we broke it off. If I don't-Jesus, if I don't say this now, it'll never-she'll never be a part of this. What are we-what are we doing here? I don't even-I don't even know this guy. She-she didn't even know this guy. What's he got to do with her? I don't-look, you asked me to bring her in the room, and she's not here-she's not. And whatever happens here, whatever happens to this guy, she's not here. And the only way that you're gonna bring her in here is with the truth. I don't know-I don't know what else to say. You just tell me what to say, and I swear, I'll try, but if you want her, you got to keep it honest. You have to understand that Diana had this thing, this way of bringing out the real in people, not just the best, you know-their honesty. And I guess she's doing it again now cause there's no way I'd be sitting here saying these things I can't believe are coming out of my mouth. It was Diana who finally had the courage. *She* was the one who told *me* that I didn't want to go through with it. And I guess she's-she's doing it again, cause all of this-all of this is everything that she wouldn't want. She wasn't a bride-to-be. She wasn't a victim. She was strong and real and messed up and wickedly honest, just like her mother. And if I sit here trying to paint it any other way, I... Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just-I thought-I thought that if I could just... paint the pictures that you needed, you know, that... that somehow... that somehow you'd bring these people some peace, finally, and they'd have their daughter back, or... But, uh... that's not how she'd wanna be. The truth is hard. Sometimes it looks so wrong, you know-the color's off, the style's wrong, but I guess it-I guess it's where the good one's live.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits end with "For all our loves...departed, or yet to arrive..."
    • Connections
      Featured in Moonlight Mile: A Journey to Screen (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      I Want to Take You Higher
      Written by Sly Stone (as Sylvester Stewart)

      Published by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. o/b/o Mijac Music (BMI)

      Performed by Sly and the Family Stone

      Courtesy of Epic Records

      By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 2002 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hebrew
    • Also known as
      • La vida continúa
    • Filming locations
      • Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Hyde Park Entertainment
      • Reveal Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $21,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,835,856
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $329,771
      • Sep 29, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,011,050
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 57m(117 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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