Moonstruck (1987) [Deluxe Edition] – DVD|Blu-ray Disc

**/****
DVD – Image B Sound B+ Extras B+
BD – Image B- Sound B+ Extras B+
starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis
screenplay by John Patrick Shanley
directed by Norman Jewison

by Travis Mackenzie Hoover SPOILER WARNING IN EFFECT. If you were to make a film about African-Americans in which everyone is shiftless, ignorant, and constantly eating watermelon or fried chicken and acting lascivious, you'd be rightly vilified for your inherent racism. But if you were to make a film about Italian-Americans in which everyone is loud, hilarious, and constantly eating pasta and acting lascivious, apparently you'd be rewarded with the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. That, at least, is the conclusion one draws from watching the stereotype cavalcade that is Moonstruck, which, however affectionate, creates a tedious minstrel show out of those wacky Eye-talians while minimizing their pain. There's plenty of talk about the chaos of love and the torment of attraction, but who are they kidding? That everything works out in the end for problems that would normally rip a family apart is par for the course in a Norman Jewison film, meaning baked ziti for all and true drama for none.

You can hear the condescending chortling of writer John Patrick Shanley as he sets up his witticism-spouting straw men. Chief amongst these is Loretta Castorini (Cher), the strict, no-nonsense woman whose function is to be introduced to the keening pleasures of love. Although she's on the verge of entering into a loveless marriage with nebbish Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), Johnny's estranged brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage) is prepared to sweep Loretta off her feet. Problem is, Passion Makes Life Complicated: she wants things neat and tidy and quiet, and this simply does not fit the Ronny template. Except we never see any of the downside–only the fact that it gets you pleasantly laid and helps ward off a Mama's-boy like Johnny.

To be sure, Shanley is exacting in his melding of storylines. Loretta's parents, Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) and Rose (Olympia Dukakis), offset the central romance: he's straying with some bimbo and she's bitter but stoic, always asking those around her to affirm her belief that men sleep around because they "fear death." Dukakis is majestic in her portrayal of the stereotypical Black-Clad Old World Italian Woman, and in the film's masterstroke, she takes a walk with Perry (John Mahoney), whom she frequently sees offending his much-younger dates at a local restaurant. But though the patterns move pleasingly, it's all too obvious when they finally converge around the breakfast table in the final scene of reconciliation. Shanley deftly moves the chess pieces, but we're the ones who get checkmated.

The problem is not so much a matter of cultural respect as it is artistic laziness. Shanley and Jewison would rather tell us that which we already think we know than show us some new corner of society: the film is highly professional and clever in structure and dialogue, but these virtues amount to somewhat superior dinner-theatre fare. While it doesn't sink to the depths of Tony n' Tina's Wedding, it's basically a tonier version, full of things designed to push love buttons in our brains and bereft of anything that might take us beyond the merely mechanical re-distribution of popular archetypes. Jewison has coasted on that kind of surface recognition for most of his career, but for blunt "social issue" movies; funny to see him being obvious on the other side of the divide.

THE DVD
Through parent company Sony, MGM reissues Moonstruck on DVD in a Deluxe Edition that could use a little of that moon magic. The 1.85:1, 16×9-enhanced image is beset by colour and definition issues: skin tones are either too yellow or too pink, while fine detail is often deeply compromised. Otherwise, the presentation is fairly dingy–not exactly what you're looking for in a romantic trifle. The Dolby Digital 5.1 remix performs a little better, although it's hemispheric and only really comes to life during the La Boheme scenes at the Met.

Extras begin with a film-length commentary featuring Cher, Jewison, and Shanley. Though none seems to have been in the same studio together, it's a vivid patchwork: Jewison points out that test audiences hated the use of opera in the original cut, leading the director to use "That's Amore" and its fellow travellers instead; an all-business Cher goes beyond the usual "it was cold that day" cast remarks; and Shanley reveals what in his background inspired certain story elements (such as that a friend with a wooden hand begat the Cage character's handicap). Alas, much of this information is rehashed in J.M. Kenny's "Moonstruck: The Heart of an Italian Family" (25 mins.), a nonetheless information-packed extravaganza that speaks intimately on casting and the lengths taken to ensure New York Italian accents.

"The Music of Moonstruck" (6 mins.) begins by rehashing the test-audience story and then segues into composer Dick Hyman explaining his choices–none of which are surprising or particularly inspired. Meanwhile, "Pasta to Pastries: The Art of Fine Italian Food" is an interactive feature wherein Mark DeCarlo visits six Little Italy eateries and tries to keep things moving as various restaurateurs explain their processes; nothing groundbreaking, but it will make you very hungry. Finally, three "collectible Italian recipe cards" are included, detailing the joys of Spadini Romana, Bucatini all'Amatricia, and Lamb de Elvino. Dig in, y'all. Originally published: May 3, 2006.

THE BLU-RAY DISC
by Bill Chambers MGM brings Moonstruck to Blu-ray in a straight port of their 2006 Deluxe Edition DVD. Even the same core master appears to have been used for this 1.85:1, 1080p presentation, but I don't think another run through the telecine would've accomplished much–although the image could use a light dustbusting and sometimes exhibits black crush. Saturation and fine detail are acceptable considering the quintessentially muted and soft '80s palette–the latter may be too good, in fact, as the chintzy, dated optical effects in the pivotal sequence that presumably gives the film its title are made laughably transparent by HiDef pitilessness. The attendant 5.1 DTS-HD MA track actually surprised me for how 'in-the-room' some of the vintage song selections sound, and overall there's some depth to this obvious remix that's quite pleasing, if contrived. Only the recipe cards were dropped from the DE, though none of the video-based extras got upgraded from standard-def.

• DVD: 102 minutes; PG; 1.85:1 (16×9-enhanced); English DD 5.1, French Dolby Surround, Spanish DD 2.0 (Mono); CC; English, French, Spanish subtitles; DVD-9; Region One; MGM
• Blu-ray: 102 minutes; PG; 1.85:1 (1080p/MPEG-4); English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French Dolby Surround, Spanish DD 2.0 (Mono); CC; English SDH, French, Spanish subtitles; BD-50; Region One; MGM