"Moonstruck" by Norman Jewison: a review

This is a feel-good movie that offers a lot as well: an interesting story and setting, lovable characters, and excellent performances. The movie was nominated for many awards with Cher winning best actress for her role as Loretta Castorini.

Loretta is a widowed Brooklyn book-keeper who leads a mundane life until she meets the brother of her fiancée. Ronny (Nicolas Cage) is damaged physically and emotionally from a lost love, but he is gorgeous and oozes sexuality. The plot thickens with many funny scenes involving other characters.

There are many memorable lines in this movie; memorable, because viewers relate to them. In one scene, Loretta’s mom (Olympia Dukakis) asks her, “Do you love him, Loretta…. Good, because when you do, they drive you crazy because they know they can”. In another scene, after Ronny and Loretta make love, he protests his love for her. Most viewers can relate to Loretta when she slaps Ronny in the face while telling him to “Get over it?”

Besides being good entertainment and keen to a great medical coding salary, this movie may have even produced a few new opera lovers from hearing LaBoheme and fostered a new appreciation for the Italian language.