Moonstruck
First screened in 1988 / Most recently screened in July 2016
Director: Norman Jewison. Cast: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, John Mahoney, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., Julie Bovasso, Louis Guss, Robert Weil, Anita Gillette, Robin Bartlett, Joe Grifasi. Screenplay: John Patrick Shanley.

Twitter Capsule: Winningly weird piece of writing given a chic palette and sold with boisterous panache by a funny, charismatic cast.

VOR: ④  When Harry Met Sally... remains the North Star of 1980s romantic comedies, but Moonstruck proves they could be even more ethnically specific, overtly stylish, and idiomatically offbeat.


Photo © 1987 Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: B

(in 1988: B; in May 2002: C+)
Academy Award Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture
Best Director: Norman Jewison
★Best Actress: Cher
★Best Supporting Actress: Olympia Dukakis
Best Supporting Actor: Vincent Gardenia
★Best Original Screenplay: John Patrick Shanley

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
★Best Actress (Musical/Comedy): Cher
Best Actor (Musical/Comedy): Nicolas Cage
★Best Supporting Actress: Olympia Dukakis
Best Screenplay: John Patrick Shanley

Other Awards:
Berlin Film Festival: Best Director
Writers Guild of America: Best Original Screenplay
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Supporting Actress (Dukakis)
National Board of Review: Best Supporting Actress (Dukakis)
British Academy Awards (BAFTAs): Best Supporting Actress (Dukakis)
Permalink Home 1987 ABC Blog E-Mail