Customer Reviews

Shoot the Moon [VHS]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One of the main reasons I rented and then bought this movie was because Diane Keaton was in it. Together, she and Albert Finney make this movie a truly devistating, powerful story of a couple who find that after fifteen years of marriage, it's over. Both performances were incredible, as was the performance of the oldest daughter, played by the late Dana Hill. She gave such a powerful performance, as a girl who didn't know whether to love or hate her father for leaving the family.

What made this a true gem was the relationship you see between Diane Keaton's character (Faith Dunlap) and her four children. You can automatically see how much she loves them and that she wants to protect them. At the same time, however, Albert Finney's character (George Dunlap) is taking the divorce in two separate directions: he's happy to not be living with his wife, but he misses her at the same time. You can immediately see that he loves the children as well and they love him.

The part that was very difficult to watch was when he (Finney) wanted to give Sherri (Dana Hill) her birthday present and she didn't want it. He got into the house anyway and locked Faith out and beat down his daughter's door and just let his rage out on her. It was so difficult to watch him to this, and the reaction of what he did, or realized what he did to his daughter brought tears to my eyes. Especially when Faith comforted her daughter and George saw that the two had a special relationship.

I would recommend this movie to people over the age of 18, since it is very powerful and has a lot of adult language and adult situations.

The disintegration of a marriage is usually red-flag matter when it's treated as an entertainment piece. But "Shoot the Moon" is, for some unknown reason, an underrated and under-appreciated (when it was released) showcase for the dynamic Diane Keaton and Albert Finney. Their marriage goes bust in this one, and in the anguish of both characters we feel likewise. The emotional fallout of the breakup of any marriage, even if its end is mutually sought, is acutely conveyed here, and Keaton and Finney manage to make us care about their characters, even if one is someone we might not otherwise want to care about. The film was one in a handful that Keaton did in her post-"Annie Hall" days but which helped catapault her to greater heights as a serious and accomplished dramatic actress ("Reds" quickly followed "Shoot the Moon" for Keaton, which garnered her a second Best Actress nomination). Why this film didn't generate more buzz when it was first released is inexplicable, but it's a hidden gem. When it's done, we have to appreciate its honesty: there's no "happily ever after" that neatly ties this one up.

i am nothing short of flabbergasted that they are finally releasing this movie on dvd. i repeatedly watched this movie back in the 80's when my family had HBO growing up. a poignant and heart-wrenching film about the dissolution of a married couple with four young girls. diane keaton, albert finney, karen allen and peter weller give amazing performances but the real star here is dana hill. her performance in this film is nothing short of visceral. she was a light that burned so intense but yet so brief. a huge loss to filmdom. don't miss this film. definitely worth a re-visit and definitely worth exposing to new generations that are unfamiliar with it. this release along with "rich and famous" with candace bergen and jacqueline bisset by warner home video truly signifies that they have recently hired some smart cookies at that company. nice to also see that both films are released in widescreen rather than full screen that that other film company called sony is so fond of doing. did i mention that i can't stand sony?

This movie is about a man and woman who have lost intimacy and passion in their marriage. Infidelity leads one of them to leave after being found out. This in turn leads to a pending divorce and how many times a week they get to see their children. Sounds familiar but this movie has a certain flair to it. It has alot of creativity and underlying emotions that can be seen by exceptional acting. This movie shows how it might feel to go through a separation from someone you have known and loved for a long time. It isn't just an easy thing and this movie points that out. Each partner grieves and gets angry and bargains, just like when you are dealing with death. The cinematography is quite nice. The relationship the children have with their parents is original, and highly entertaining, especially how they interact with Keaton. The house they live in is so cozy and warm, I wish I lived in it. The ending really hits home and leaves you wondering if she will forgive him? I guess the viewer gets to answer the question. Not your typical run of the mill movie fare with a pat ending and everybody smiling when they walk out of the theater. It is not about happy times, this movie represents separation via divorce reality, the harsh reality!

Lisa Nary

"If I give my heart to you, I must be sure from the very start, that you would love me more than her, cause I couldn't stand the pain . . ." There is an intensely painful scene in this movie that has haunted me ever since first seeing this movie years ago. Diane Keaton's character is in the bathtub smoking a joint, singing the Beatles' song, "If I Fell" after her husband has left her for another woman.

Also known for his work as a director on such memorable films as Midnight Express, Pink Floyd - The Wall, Mississippi Burning, and The Life of David Gale, Sir Alan Parker's film, Shoot the Moon (1981), follows the deterioration of a 15-year marriage between a Marin County couple played by Albert Finney and Diane Keaton. Finney plays George, a writer who has decided to leave his wife, Faith, and their four daughters for another woman (Karen Allen). Parker's film is not so much about what went wrong with the couple's marriage as the emotional consequences following their decision to divorce, which is exactly what makes this film so unique. Quite like Ingmar Bergman's Scenes From a Marriage, Parker's sophisticated film is permeated with a raw, gut-wrenching emotional power that is rarely found in Hollywood relationship films. This is by no means a feel-good love story. Rather, it is a love story that feels real. Not only do George and Faith discover it is impossible to let go of their shared history together (even though they know their marriage is over), they also find it just as impossible to move forward separately. Keaton and Finney's fine performances are nothing less than one would expect from them. Highly recommended.

G. Merritt

If you haven't seen "Shoot the Moon", see it. It is very difficult to find, as it appears to be out of print on video. I compare it somewhat to "The Pumpkin Eater" (Eng., 1964), with Anne Bancroft and Peter Finch, for a few reasons. Both films deal with bad marriages, in which the husband cheats. Also, the husbands in both films are writers (Peter Finch is a screenwriter, Albert Finney in "Shoot the Moon" is a novelist), and the wives are very supportive, up to a point. However, the similarities seem to end there.

Diane Keaton and Albert Finney play the husband and wife in "Shoot the Moon", and they are both absolutely superb. Ditto for Dana Hill, the actress playing their oldest child (very tragically, this very talented actress died in 1996 due to complications from diabetes). This film is so realistic, and the acting, all the way around, is so natural. The soundtrack offers a nice throwback to the '70's as well (Bob Segar, etc.). Also watch for a young Tracey Gold, who would later star in "Growing Pains" and a younger Tina Yothers, who would later star in "Family Ties". I highly recommend this film....a very good story and great acting together provide for a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience.

This is the best movie about divorce I've seen. The emotional nakedness here was rare for an American movie in the 80s, and it still packs a wallop (look especially for the typewriter scene). Also, it contains one of the few performances Diane Keaton has given without a single trace of Annie Hall ("Reds" was another). Finney is good, also, and the late Dana Hill is astonishing. A wonderful, truthful script. See this.

One of my all-time Favorites! Like the previous viewer, I remember watching this film on HBO when it first came out. My family all moved to the SF Bay Area around that time and this movie holds a special place in my heart. I have been waiting for this to be released for years!! Albert Finney and Diane Keaton are masterful as usual in this film. This movie stirs all of the emotions. Another masterpiece by Sir Alan Parker. A must see if you haven't already...

This is one of the best films about the emotional chaos created by a broken marriage; and it manages to accomplish this by somehow sidestepping all the cliches. Like the other commentors, I'm completely flabbergasted by the fact there is no dvd??

What's remarkable about this movie is that it depicts domestic issues with the intensity of a war movie or courtroom drama, and yet it's never forced or fake.

The editorial review misses the mark; the "emotional atmoshperics" are pitch-perfect (for example, the shot of the boat that the reviewer mentions is a calm, almost meditative long-shot, whereas most movies would have ruined the moment by trying to over-dramatize it).

When I first saw this movie, what struck me was the way it shows domestic violence. In a bad movie (like "Enough"), only evil people are violent. What's truly gripping about "Shoot the Moon" is that we get inside George (Finney's character) so deeply that we understand exactly how his eruptions occur, and part of their shock is that we understand how they destroy his chances of reconciling with his family. His family can survive his inability to control his temper-- it's his own life that he's ruining.

I hope I haven't made this sound unrelentingly bleak; there are lots of lively, funny moments as well, and the performances are wonderful. But it shows a painful divorce with more honesty and emotion than any other Hollywood movie I can think of.