- Actors: Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Liev Schreiber, Anna Paquin, Tovah Feldshuh
- Directors: Tony Goldwyn
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Miramax
- DVD Release Date: 12 Oct 1999
- Run Time: 107 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00000K31T
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 26,505 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Although its tale of marital crisis unfolds a bit too cleanly, A Walk on the Moon--which was co-produced by Dustin Hoffman--offers a welcome relief from the juvenile assault of skull-throbbing blockbusters. The story is gently involving, the characters are authentic, and, best of all, Diane Lane is given a chance to show why she's one of the most genuine and underrated actresses of her generation. Here she plays Pearl Kantrowitz, a devoted housewife on a routine vacation in the Catskills with her TV repairman husband Marty (Live Schreiber), 14-year-old daughter (Anna Paquin), and rambunctious younger son (Tovah Feldshuh).
It's the summer of 1969. Neil Armstrong has made his "one small step for man", Woodstock is about to happen nearby (leading to a barely plausible dramatic coincidence), and while her husband is away on business, Pearl is cautiously receptive to the seductions of "the blouse man" (Viggo Mortensen), a hippie salesman who offers the adventure and passion that Pearl sacrificed to young pregnancy and marriage. Once the stage for infidelity is set, A Walk on the Moon progresses predictably, but first-time screenwriter Pamela Gray stays true to the emotions of her characters, and actor Tony Goldwyn (making a smooth directorial debut) maintains precisely the right tone to downplay most of the movie's dramatic clichés. Add to this a sharp dynamic between Lane and Paquin, whose performances create a substantial mother-daughter relationship. Graced by stolen moments and fleeting expressions that speak volumes, this unassuming little film is eminently worthwhile. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Set in the summer of '69, coinciding with Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon, this delicate and moving film centres around Pearl (Diane Lane), who heads off on the regular family holiday with her two children, leaving behind her loving husband Marty (Liev Schreiber), who cannot escape his work commitments and must follow later. Content, but emotionally trapped and suffocated by an early marriage as well as the middle-class restraints of the era, she is seduced by a wandering salesman (Viggo Mortensen) and the physical and emotional freedom his lifestyle offers. Through him she manages, fleetingly, to live a life dreamt of but never lived. But real life is not a dream, and infinitely more complex.
The story is simple, and one that has been told many times, exploring a stultifying and ordinary life which is rendered extraordinary by the entrance of a mysterious and charismatic stranger. What makes this film special is the attention paid to characterisation. All the performances are superb, imbued with a wistful melancholy and a sharp humour culled from a sympathetic script and sensitive direction. Anna Paquin is uncomfortably believable as Lane's troubled and troublesome daughter Alison struggling her way through adolescence. The one slightly hackneyed aspect is Marty's mother, who accompanies them on holiday. Although Tovah Feldshuh is a powerful actress, the character as written is a borderline stereotype of the all-knowing, all-seeing, hard-working Jewish mother. What is most impressive, however, is the way the film succeeds in eliciting sympathy for all its characters. Pearl's emotional confusion rings real and true. Mortensen's contribution is like the cherry on top of the icing on the cake. Handsome, cool and mysterious, he is the perfect fantasy made flesh. Yet by the end of the film, sincere in his affection for Pearl, he becomes more than a mere symptom or symbol. But it is Liev Schreiber's performance that is the real tour-de-force here; as the cuckolded husband determined to support and protect those he loves, he is portrayed so sympathetically and so tenderly that his presence not only underscores the entire film, but somehow manages to make Pearl's plight even more heartfelt.
This film certainly deserved more of an outing than a trip into local video stores, and I for one wish it were also available on Region 2 DVD. It's a film to re-watch and enjoy during quiet and pensive moments.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I was sceptical about viewing this film as my only reason for purchasing it was the presence of Viggo Mortensen. What can I say.....I was blown away!
Diane Lane was fantastic as the bored and (unintentionally) neglected housewife. Married very young to her first love she feels old before her time and is curious about just what is 'out there'.
Anna Paquin was heartbreaking familiar as Diane Lane's teenage daughter on the cusp of womanhood and mortified when she realises that her mother wasn't just 'Mom'.
Viggo's character, Walker, sells womens wear from a converted bus. He is charming, kind and, obviously, devastatingly handsome. He's not a shallow heartbreaker, you feel that he really falls for her and wants to be with her. All in all it's a great movie, the characters all have their flaws but they are well rounded and very likeable.
PS The waterfall scenes are a real treat.
Diane Lane was fantastic as the bored and (unintentionally) neglected housewife. Married very young to her first love she feels old before her time and is curious about just what is 'out there'.
Anna Paquin was heartbreaking familiar as Diane Lane's teenage daughter on the cusp of womanhood and mortified when she realises that her mother wasn't just 'Mom'.
Viggo's character, Walker, sells womens wear from a converted bus. He is charming, kind and, obviously, devastatingly handsome. He's not a shallow heartbreaker, you feel that he really falls for her and wants to be with her. All in all it's a great movie, the characters all have their flaws but they are well rounded and very likeable.
PS The waterfall scenes are a real treat.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This film is a wonderful eye-opener and a must-see. I recommend anyone to buy it. I was lucky enough to stumble across it whilst watching TV and since then I have bought it and watched it repeatedly. It stars Viggo Mortensen, who now has one of the leading roles in the lord of the rings trilogy, and Diane Lane, who has been in many films such as The Perfect Storm. The title is given as it is set during Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon. Lane plays Pearl Kantrowitz, a housewife in the late 60's who falls for the local 'blouse man' (Mortensen). Whilst Pearl's husband has to leave her for a while due to business her and the blouse man elope in a steamy affair. As in all films her husband returns and finds out yet he is willing to take her back as they have two children and a responsibility. Now Pearl must choose.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
touching
I'd seen this about 3 years after it first came out. It was one of those insomniacs movies, on TV at about 2 in the morning and I was working with the TV playing in the background... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Susan Belcher
A sweet and gentle celebration of family
Okay this film isn't going to appeal to everyone, it's not hard-hitting, it doesn't have much social comment and although it concerns marital infidelity it's not particularly... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2009 by A. Morton
an intelligent,moving and memorable film
Diane Lane feels as though she's walking on the moon after riding in Viggo Mortensen's bus and falling for his charms. Read more
Published on 24 July 2006 by dan the fan
Like Walking on the Cloud with Millions of Sighs
Life does sometimes do cruel thing.
As a housewife with kids of 15 and 6, similar situation to Pearl (Lane)fs, and with my favourite actor Viggo Mortensenfs hippy man, I... Read more
As a housewife with kids of 15 and 6, similar situation to Pearl (Lane)fs, and with my favourite actor Viggo Mortensenfs hippy man, I... Read more
Published on 10 May 2004 by Hiromi
A tru-to-life movie about love, life, feelings
Tony Goldwyn's "A Walk on the Moon" is a wonderful melodrama. Don't be afraid of the word "melodrama", in connection with this movie it is used in its best... Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2000
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