Shoot the Moon

Discovered this film years ago after reading Pauline Kael's New Yorker review inher massive FOR KEEPS anthology. Probably the greatest review of any film I'veever read. Loved the review, loved the film. Re-did both recently with an even moreappreciative response. A Marin County Family Time Machine. Especially moved bythe Special Feature guided tour through the film with Alan Parker (Director) and BoGoldman (screenwriter): two cinematic ghost-gods reminiscing about a long ago love affair.

Diane Keaton and Albert Finney, what could go wrong? It's clunky. Marital angst with a lot of screen time and dialogue for too many of the children. A noisy scene where they break dishes in anger that had no positive effect.

I was waiting for this film to come out on DVD. It's an exceptional movie with one of the finest performances by an adolescent that you will ever see.Albert Finney and Diane Keaton star as the Dunlaps, a successful Marin County-living couple whose marriage falls apart. Dana Hill portrays Sherry, the oldest of their four daughters (a very young Tracey Gold, Tina Yothers and Viveka Davis round out the other children).Sherry is old enough to see what is happening, but too young to handle the aftermath. I believe that a Washington Post critic at the time, said Ms. Hill's portrayal was the finest adolescent dramatic performance ever filmed. One would be hard pressed to argue that point.Keaton and Finney were both nominated for Golden Globes. For the amazing dramatic peformances alone, this is a must-see. For the dead-on interpretation of the effects of divorce on the family dynamic, do yourself a favor and pick up this DVD.

Shoot the Moon starring Albert Finney and Diane Keaton is a blistering, explosive, and unflinching film about a two stubborn people who's marriage is starting to unravel with great speed. Finney and Keaton are remarkable as George and Faith Dunlap. George has decided to leave his wife for a self-assured woman who's also married. Faith and George have 4 girls and the oldest girl deeply resents her father for walking out. Along the way, Faith begins a romantic relationship with a much younger man and George becomes enraged towards Faith and you just have to see the ending to believe it! Shoot the Moon is a film that doesn't sugarcoat anything about a marriage on the brink of collapse. I highly recommend this film, it will leave you speechless!

I bought this on VHS for friends going through some troubles. I last watched this film in college in 1982. I could barely sit through it then (coming from divorced parents). Now, 25 years later, happily married with three children, and none of the problems in this movie, I still fought back tears when Albert Finny came to give his daughter a typewriter and...The writer, Bo Goldman, just nails this story and I have no doubt from personal experience. Everything is nuanced and pitch-perfect to anyone who has come from parents who separated while they were young.If you, or a friend, are in the process of leaving your spouse and kids, watch this movie first. You should know the other side of your decision.

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.

Diane Keaton is always a pleasure to watch. She is versatile enough for comedy and drama; her character in this movie is so believable any divorced woman will feel like her life is being played out by this wonderful actress.

I love Diane Keaton ...... but it’s not really very good.

Great film excellent quality, very happy.

A real good film, well worth watching - funny and sad and realistic.

Aime

大学生の時に見た映画です。ストーリーは明るいものではないのですが、当時、とても印象が強く、中古でお手頃価格だったので購入しました。学生のころと違い、実際の人生でいろいろ経験した後に見ると、ちょっと冗長で、一番印象的だったシーンも昔ほどのインパクトはありませんが、でも、時代背景がよくわかる。大学時代に米国にも住んでいたので、いろいろ懐かしかったです。つらつら考えると、1980年代の米国の映画、今と違って、社会背景とか、思想（この映画はちょっとウーマンリブ系が入っている）がいろいろと反映されているとしみじみ思いました。印象深いですね。