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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Pearl Kantrowitz and her husband Marty are a [[lower middle class]], [[Jews|Jewish]] couple in [[New York City]], where he works as a television repairman. The movie opens as the couple and their family, including their teenage daughter Alison, their young son Danny, and Marty's mother Lillian, depart for their annual summer camp in the [[Catskill Mountains|Catskills]] at Dr. Fogler's Bungalows.
Pearl Kantrowitz and her husband Marty are a [[lower middle class]] [[Jews|Jewish]] couple in [[New York City]]. For the summer of 1969, the couple go on their annual summer vacation at Dr. Fogler's Bungalows in the [[Catskill Mountains|Catskills]] with their family, which includes teenage daughter Alison, young son Danny, and Marty's mother Lillian.


Having to stay in New York for work during the week, Marty sees his family only on weekends at the camp. Pearl feels lonely and isolated. She got pregnant at the age of 17 and quickly married Marty, and feels that she missed enjoying her youth. With Marty absent, Pearl is attracted to the handsome and free-spirited Walker Jerome. Meanwhile, Alison is neglected. She undergoes teenage passages by herself—her [[menarche|first period]], her first date, and her first kiss, as she develops a relationship with Ross Epstein, a boy at the camp.
Marty, who works as a television repairman back in the city, can only visit his family at the camp on the weekends. Pearl, who got pregnant with Alison at the age of 17 and quickly married Marty, feels at a crossroads in her life. She meets Walker Jerome, a free-spirited salesman who goes from resort to resort selling clothes. With Marty absent, Pearl starts spending more time with Walker and they begin an affair. Meanwhile, Alison undergoes her own summer of changes and experiences teenage rites of passage—her [[menarche|first period]], her first date, and her first kiss with Ross Epstein, a boy at the camp.


Marty is unable to visit the family because he has to repair more television sets than usual, as customers are anxious to be ready to see the impending [[Apollo 11|Moon landing]]. While the whole town celebrates [[Neil Armstrong]]'s historic Moon walk, Pearl and Walker make love. Marty's mother Lillian learns of the affair and tries to persuade Pearl to break it off. But the affair continues when Marty cannot get to visit on the weekend because of the traffic jams caused by the huge [[Woodstock festival]], which is taking place within walking distance of the bungalow colony. Pearl goes to the festival. She doesn't know that Alison goes as well, with Ross and her friends, although her mother had explicitly forbidden her to do so. Alison becomes upset after seeing Pearl and Walker carousing while on [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] (acid).
The impending [[Apollo 11|Moon landing]] has kept Marty busy at his job, as customers are anxious to have their TV sets ready for the historic event. While the whole town celebrates [[Neil Armstrong]]'s historic Moon walk, Pearl and Walker have sex. Marty's mother Lillian learns of the affair and tries to persuade Pearl to break it off. But the affair continues when Marty cannot visit on the weekend because of the traffic jams caused by the huge [[Woodstock festival]], which is taking place within walking distance of the bungalow colony. Pearl goes to the festival with Walker. Alison goes to the festival as well with her friends, although her mother had explicitly forbidden her to do so. When Alison happens to see Pearl in the festival crowds carousing with Walker while on [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]], she becomes upset and leaves with Ross.


Marty learns of his wife's affair and confronts Pearl. Alison also confronts her mother in an emotional scene. Pearl is forced to deal with her love of her family and her conflicting yearning for marital freedom.
Marty learns of his wife's affair and confronts Pearl. Alison also confronts her mother in an emotional scene. Pearl is forced to deal with her love of her family and her conflicting yearning for marital freedom.


Pearl decides to stay with Marty and tells Walker she won't go away with him. He says he understands. The final scene shows Pearl and Marty dancing together, first to [[Dean Martin]]'s "[[When You're Smiling]]" and then to [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Purple Haze]]", after Marty changes the station.
Pearl decides to stay with Marty and tells Walker she can’t go away with him. Walker says he understands. The final scene shows Pearl and Marty dancing together, first to [[Dean Martin]]'s "[[When You're Smiling]]" and then to [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Purple Haze]]", after Marty changes the radio station.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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''A Walk on the Moon'' received a generally favorable reception among critics. [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of 72% based on 36 reviews. The site's consensus states: "An impressive showcase for Diane Lane and an assured debut from director Tony Goldwyn, ''A Walk on the Moon'' finds absorbing period drama within a family at a crossroads."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Walk_on_the_moon|title=A Walk on the Moon|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref>
''A Walk on the Moon'' received a generally favorable reception among critics. [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of 72% based on 36 reviews. The site's consensus states: "An impressive showcase for Diane Lane and an assured debut from director Tony Goldwyn, ''A Walk on the Moon'' finds absorbing period drama within a family at a crossroads."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Walk_on_the_moon|title=A Walk on the Moon|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref>


Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote that the film "becomes something larger and deeper as we watch" and that the character of Allison is an obvious surrogate for screenwriter Pamela Davis.<ref name=Wilmington>{{cite web|last=Wilmington|first=Michael|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-04-02-9904020024-story.html|title='A Walk on the Moon' Makes '60S Palpable in Its Own Quiet Way|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=1999-04-02|access-date=2021-08-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.today/2021.08.13-003851/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-04-02-9904020024-story.html |archive-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> Stephen Hunter of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised Diane Lane's "capacity to express the yearning that Pearl feels as authentically as the guilt she suffers."<ref name=Hunters>{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com:443/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/walkonthemoonhunter.htm|title=Taking Stock at Woodstock|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1999-04-02|access-date=2021-08-12}}</ref> He also described Marty as a "schlumph".<ref name=Hunters/>
Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote that the film "becomes something larger and deeper as we watch" and that the character of Allison is an obvious surrogate for screenwriter Pamela Davis.<ref name=Wilmington>{{cite web|last=Wilmington|first=Michael|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-04-02-9904020024-story.html|title='A Walk on the Moon' Makes '60S Palpable in Its Own Quiet Way|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=1999-04-02|access-date=2021-08-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.today/2021.08.13-003851/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-04-02-9904020024-story.html |archive-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> Stephen Hunter of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised Diane Lane's "capacity to express the yearning that Pearl feels as authentically as the guilt she suffers."<ref name=Hunters>{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com:443/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/walkonthemoonhunter.htm|title=Taking Stock at Woodstock|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1999-04-02|access-date=2021-08-12}}</ref> He also described Marty as a "schlumph".<ref name=Hunters/>

[[Desson Thomson|Desson Howe]], also of the ''Washington Post'', found the film "a little too perfect and symbolically signposted for its own good".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howe |first1=Desson |date=2 April 1999 |title=A Walk Toward a Dead End |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/walkonthemoonhowe.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] gave a mixed review but singled out Anna Paquin’s performance, saying her plot line “as a teenage girl struggling with new ideas and raging hormones” is the film’s most compelling story.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=1999-04-02 |title=A Walk on the Moon movie review (1999) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-walk-on-the-moon-1999 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=RogerEbert.com |language=en}}</ref>
Readers of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked the film as #9 on the magazine's "50 Sexiest Movies Ever" poll.<ref>{{cite news|title = 50 Sexiest Movies Ever |work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20241796_17,00.html |access-date=22 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204054734/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20241796_16,00.html
Readers of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked the film as #9 on the magazine's "50 Sexiest Movies Ever" poll.<ref>{{cite news|title = 50 Sexiest Movies Ever |work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20241796_17,00.html |access-date=22 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204054734/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20241796_16,00.html
|archive-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref>
|archive-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' found it "a little too perfect and symbolically signposted for its own good".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Howe |first1=Desson |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/walkonthemoonhowe.htm |title=A Walk Toward a Dead End |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2 April 1999}}</ref>


===Accolades===
===Accolades===
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[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships]]
[[Category:Films about mother–son relationships]]
[[Category:Films about puberty]]
[[Category:Adultery in films]]

Revision as of 10:24, 30 August 2022

This article is about the 1999 film. For similar uses, see moonwalk (disambiguation).
A Walk on the Moon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTony Goldwyn
Written byPamela Gray
Produced byJay Cohen
Tony Goldwyn
Lee Gottsegen
Dustin Hoffman
Neil Koenigsberg
Murray Schisgal
Starring
CinematographyAnthony B. Richmond
Edited byDana Congdon
Music byMason Daring
Production
company
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release date
  • 2 April 1999 (1999-04-02)
Running time
107 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Australia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million[1]
Box office$4,750,660[2]

A Walk on the Moon is a 1999 drama film starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Liev Schreiber and Anna Paquin. The film, which was set against the backdrop of the Woodstock festival of 1969 and the United States's Moon landing of that year, was distributed by Miramax Films. Directed by Tony Goldwyn in his directorial debut, it was highly acclaimed on release. Diane Lane earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead for her performance.

Plot

Pearl Kantrowitz and her husband Marty are a lower middle class Jewish couple in New York City. For the summer of 1969, the couple go on their annual summer vacation at Dr. Fogler's Bungalows in the Catskills with their family, which includes teenage daughter Alison, young son Danny, and Marty's mother Lillian.

Marty, who works as a television repairman back in the city, can only visit his family at the camp on the weekends. Pearl, who got pregnant with Alison at the age of 17 and quickly married Marty, feels at a crossroads in her life. She meets Walker Jerome, a free-spirited salesman who goes from resort to resort selling clothes. With Marty absent, Pearl starts spending more time with Walker and they begin an affair. Meanwhile, Alison undergoes her own summer of changes and experiences teenage rites of passage—her first period, her first date, and her first kiss with Ross Epstein, a boy at the camp.

The impending Moon landing has kept Marty busy at his job, as customers are anxious to have their TV sets ready for the historic event. While the whole town celebrates Neil Armstrong's historic Moon walk, Pearl and Walker have sex. Marty's mother Lillian learns of the affair and tries to persuade Pearl to break it off. But the affair continues when Marty cannot visit on the weekend because of the traffic jams caused by the huge Woodstock festival, which is taking place within walking distance of the bungalow colony. Pearl goes to the festival with Walker. Alison goes to the festival as well with her friends, although her mother had explicitly forbidden her to do so. When Alison happens to see Pearl in the festival crowds carousing with Walker while on LSD, she becomes upset and leaves with Ross.

Marty learns of his wife's affair and confronts Pearl. Alison also confronts her mother in an emotional scene. Pearl is forced to deal with her love of her family and her conflicting yearning for marital freedom.

Pearl decides to stay with Marty and tells Walker she can’t go away with him. Walker says he understands. The final scene shows Pearl and Marty dancing together, first to Dean Martin's "When You're Smiling" and then to Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze", after Marty changes the radio station.

Cast

Soundtrack

A Walk on the Moon
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedMarch 23, 1999
GenreRock, folk rock
Length54:40
LabelSire Records

The soundtrack for the film was released March 23, 1999 through Sire Records. It contains sixteen tracks.[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
A Walk on the Moon
No.TitleLength
1."Sunlight" (The Youngbloods)3.08
2."Town Without Pity" (Mandy Barnett)2:53
3."Wishin' and Hopin'" (Dusty Springfield)2:54
4."Sally Go 'Round the Roses" (Damnations TX)3:21
5."Summertime" (Big Brother and the Holding Company)3:59
6."Crystal Blue Persuasion" (Morcheeba)3:53
7."Today" (Jefferson Airplane)3:02
8."Embryonic Journey" (Jefferson Airplane)1:51
9."Cactus Tree" (Joni Mitchell)4:37
10."Ripple" (The Grateful Dead)4:11
11."Helplessly Hoping" (Taxiride)2:21
12."No Matter What You Do" (Mojave 3)2:13
13."Who Knows Where the Times Goes" (Judy Collins)4:46
14."White Bird" (It's a Beautiful Day)3:09
15."Follow" (Richie Havens)4:45
16."Crimson & Clover" (Elijah Blue Allman and Cher)3:37
Total length:54:40

Critical reception

A Walk on the Moon received a generally favorable reception among critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 72% based on 36 reviews. The site's consensus states: "An impressive showcase for Diane Lane and an assured debut from director Tony Goldwyn, A Walk on the Moon finds absorbing period drama within a family at a crossroads."[4]

Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune wrote that the film "becomes something larger and deeper as we watch" and that the character of Allison is an obvious surrogate for screenwriter Pamela Davis.[5] Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post praised Diane Lane's "capacity to express the yearning that Pearl feels as authentically as the guilt she suffers."[6] He also described Marty as a "schlumph".[6]

Desson Howe, also of the Washington Post, found the film "a little too perfect and symbolically signposted for its own good".[7] Roger Ebert gave a mixed review but singled out Anna Paquin’s performance, saying her plot line “as a teenage girl struggling with new ideas and raging hormones” is the film’s most compelling story.[8]

Readers of Entertainment Weekly ranked the film as #9 on the magazine's "50 Sexiest Movies Ever" poll.[9]

Accolades

Diane Lane's performance earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead.[10]

References

  1. ^ "A Walk on the Moon (1999)". The Numbers. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  2. ^ "A Walk on the Moon". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "A Walk on the Moon". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  4. ^ "A Walk on the Moon". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. ^ Wilmington, Michael (2 April 1999). "'A Walk on the Moon' Makes '60S Palpable in Its Own Quiet Way". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b Hunter, Stephen (2 April 1999). "Taking Stock at Woodstock". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  7. ^ Howe, Desson (2 April 1999). "A Walk Toward a Dead End". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ Ebert, Roger (2 April 1999). "A Walk on the Moon movie review (1999)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  9. ^ "50 Sexiest Movies Ever". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  10. ^ Clinton, Paul (26 March 2000). "A warmup for the big show 'Election' voted best film in Spirit Awards". CNN. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
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