Moonlight Mile

Name: Moonlight Mile
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: September 27, 2002
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Susan Sarandon

2002

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

See All

7.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: September 27, 2002 | PG-13

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Susan Sarandon

Summary: An emotional tale of disarming honesty and unexpected humor...a story about waking up to life, letting go, and discovering that love comes in the most unexpected circumstances. (Touchstone Pictures)

Director: Brad Silberling

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 117 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Not many movies know that truth. Moonlight Mile is based on it. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Both funny and telling about the messy passages of grief. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Though its conclusion is too tidily therapeutic, and though elements of its story strain credibility, Moonlight Mile has an understated, lived-in quality and a wry, unforced sense of the absurd. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

The movie doesn't really jell. Glossy, good-looking and well-produced, it affects you and even sometimes moves you, but it doesn't really convincingly connect. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

What's on screen is too honest and from the heart to totally dismiss but too slick and contrived to completely embrace. This is a film that cares about genuine emotion but also wants to tame it, to tidy it up and keep it confined to quarters. Read full review

Chris Kaltenbach

Moonlight Mile leavens the mood occasionally, but it cheapens things by insisting that everybody onscreen and in the audience leavethe theater smiling.

David Edelstein

I'm at a loss to account for how OFF this film is -- how a movie can seem so conscientiously earnest yet so creepily exploitive. It's like a Christmas stocking over a crematory. Read full review

SEE ALL 34 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 22, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is very much a character driven film and its very dialogue heavy, with a strong use of music to back up the emotional tone of each scene. The story is obviously quite sad and the main character, Joe, is quite a raw character - an adolescent who is clearly quite confused, lost and probably someone other adolescents can relate to, being faced with a very difficult, bleak situation at such a young age. I thought the script was good, as I felt the characters he interacted with all brought out different elements of him and helped me as the viewer to get a better idea of where he was coming from, of his background and so on. He is quite an introvert but we see through different scenes, the impact the tragedy has had on not only him but those he lives with, his parents and so on.

Some of the dialogue is quite poignant and there are some very emotional scenes. I found myself rooting for him and hoping that the wounds that had been caused by the tragedy, could somehow be healed or that if not, at least by the end of the film that Joe would have a clearer idea of what he wants in the future, of where he's heading and so on. The scenes between Joe and his late fiancee parents, but particularly the father, Ben, are especially poignant - both of them struggle to show emotion and come to terms with their predicament but the more they spend time together, the more similarities I suppose we realise they have. The scenes between Joe and Bertie are also quite good, as they challenge each other somewhat and provide an insight in to the past. There are some nice camera shots, with outside scenes having an autumnal look/feel to them. I felt that the film seemed a bit lacking in direction by one point but then the plot pace increased when the court case was suddenly brought back. Really in a film like this, it all boils down to the characters - how believable they are and how well their portrayed on screen and as far as this is concerned, it scores well. The only other thing I should probably point out is the fact that its quite a subtle film, in terms of the messages (or themes) the film covers and the fact its very 'dialogue heavy' and thus its probably not for you if your easily distracted.

Yes, I suppose I would. This is a good character driven drama with some touching dialogue and a good cast. The main character of Joe I felt was particularly well portrayed and it was interesting to see him interact with what would have been his mother and father in law. Its not particularly fast paced and it doesn't contain much action or special effects but for what it is, its certainly a decent enough film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dunkaccino

Jul 13, 2023

With this kind of plot, it is commendable that the film doesn’t step into melodrama territory. Its screenplay by Brad Silberling has the right kind of intensity and insight. The dialogue here makes you think, and the theme is delivered without feeling forced.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 2 REVIEWS