The Man in the Moon

Just about every modern review of 1991's The Man in the Moon will begin with mentioning the acting debut of Reese Witherspoon. And they should. As much talent as the rest of the cast and crew bring to the table, it's Witherspoon who runs away with the film, making her coming-of-age performance seem effortlessly honest, charming and bittersweet. But now that the actress has proven she has what it takes for the long haul, we can focus on the other elements of director Robert Mulligan's film that put her in a position to succeed.

A tomboy caught at that precarious age of 14, Dani Trant (Witherspoon) admires all the attention her pretty older sister, Maureen, attracts from the boys...but is still enjoying all the innocent fun to be had in 1957 rural Louisiana. Her priorities change when the older boy next door, Court (Jason London), sparks an immediate romantic connection. Unfortunately, it's a bit one-sided, as Court refuses to commit to a relationship with someone three years younger. And when he finally sets his eyes on Maureen, a love triangle forms that sets the stage for a family catastrophe.

Watching all this from a parental perspective are Matthew and Abigail Trant (Sam Waterston and Tess Harper respectively), expecting their fourth child and working to make ends meet. But an accident sends Abigail to the hospital, pushing Matthew to the breaking point and threatening to destroy the very family he treasures.

Mining the same period childhood details and strong father figure as his earlier classic To Kill a Mockingbird, Mulligan excels at this sort of material but doesn't repeat himself. The Man in the Moon has a texture that warms you like dapples of cinematic sunshine; it’s the sort of movie you want to live in...thanks in no small part to cinematographer Freddie Francis who was on a real roll (he shot Scorsese's remake of Cape Fear as a follow-up). So much of what makes the film work is its atmosphere of secret swimming holes, quiet footpaths and a shady back porch.

But for all the sweetness and light, Mulligan isn't afraid to introduce a bit of tragedy. While Atticus Finch might catch some heat for being an unrealistic saint of a father, Matthew Trant isn't above skipping church, complaining about his daughter's choice of close or even brandishing a belt in a fit of disciplinary frustration. In short, he's human. And the Trant family shows that across the board. But it remains Dani's story, her first crush, first betrayal, and first heartache. And Witherspoon sells every moment with an uncontained joie de vivre that makes each life lesson go down easy.

Twilight Time's 3000-copy limited edition blu-ray is simply drop-dead gorgeous in high-definition. Extras are limited to an isolated music score, original theatrical trailer and liner notes.