Box of Moonlight (1996) User Reviews

Modern day fable to be cherished

[grahamclarke · 8/10 · 7 December 2005]

Director Tom DiCillo has all the attributes required for a top indie film maker. He displays a sharp humorous edge coupled with an all round smartness. But his advantage over his peers is that his works are permeated with a genuine and very winning romanticism (realized best in "Real Blonde").

The premise of "Box of Moonlight" is indeed a romantic one. Two complete opposites who by all accounts would steer clear of each other are instinctively drawn together when destiny wills a chance encounter. They will learn important life lessons from each other and part the richer. It is in effect a delightful spin on the buddy movie.

John Turturro and Sam Rockwell are the least likely buddies one could imagine. Turturro plays the rigid, time obsessive and orderly engineer against Rockwell's wild, irresponsible back to nature outcast. Turturro's Al Fountain senses much is not well in his life and subconsciously perceives that Rockwell's "The Kid" might just be what he is so much in need of; someone to release those parts of his personality which adulthood and its encumbering responsibilities has suffocated. "The Kid" indeed accomplishes this in a variety of ways including coaxing Al to reach his inner child in the wonderful tomato throwing scene and luring him into an touching adolescent one night stand with Floatie played beautifully by Catherine Keener, a DiCillo favorite. By the end of the movie Al will return home a far better husband and father.

Just how Rockwell's "The Kid" will be effected is less clear. He is clearly a severely deluded character functioning more as a symbol rather than a credible person. In lesser hands it could have come off ludicrous, but Rockwell nails it perfectly in what would be his break through role. There's a palpable chemistry between the buddies which is so vital for making this story work.

"Box of Moonlight" is a modern day fable, a cautionary tale reminding us not to allow adulthood smother us. It's a tale told with tremendous charm and a movie to be cherished.

Subtle = Powerful

[queitus · 8/10 · 14 May 2002]

Everything in this film is about subtlety... I think that's why it has such a lasting effect.

It's definitely one of those "mischievous" films... sort of an escape from reality that makes you wonder why you and others take themselves so seriously. It's something that will most likely linger with you for a while. This film made me re-evaluate the seriousness of my life. I think this is among the only films that actually has changed my life somewhat.

Subtle but powerful

[C Seay · 7/10 · 29 December 2002]

I'd heard plenty of people tell me that I needed to see "Box of Moonlight" because it was filmed in Knoxville, TN (my hometown) and that it featured several signs and personalities familiar to Knoxvillians (the newscasters Gene Patterson and Kristin Hoke, the hot pink "Bambi's" bar/strip club, etc.), so I watched the movie almost entirely trying to pick up these things. I found myself enjoying a very subtle, lighthearted film about a man (John Turturro) struggling with a mid-life crisis, and eventually liberating himself from the normal stiff, "clockwork" persona he had become. Sam Rockwell gives a great performance as "Kid", and Catherine Keener is wonderful as the "simple southern girl" (a 180 degree turn from her role in "Being John Malkovich"). Turturro is excellent as Al, and you can feel the emotions he is having during his transformation. Everyone should be able to relate to his disappointment when he returns to the fictional Splatchee Lake, only to see that it is no longer what he remembers. You begin to understand how much he needs someone like Kid to break him free from the life that he so obviously loathes, but not until the final scene do you understand how much Kid needed him to stick around and be his friend (maybe Kid wasn't as slow-witted as we were made to believe?). The writing and acting in this film are wonderful, and I wish more filmmakers would make movies like this. It was a refreshing story, and one that is worth seeing.

Extraordinary!

[Nick_Dets · 8 August 2002]

1996's "Box of Moonlight" is the very best motion picture I have ever seen in my life. It is a highly symbolic, extraordinary masterpiece of a film. Viewing it is a pure magical experience, and the unique thing is that for every viewing, I have found something I didn't find before. Always something great. (Maybe this is the reason it is so underrated, because there is so much to discover about this film that actually requires a second, or even third viewing). Tom Dicillo's follow up to "Living in Oblivion" has Turturro playing Al Fountain, a strict by the books engineer who, as one character says, "goes through life like a robot". He doesn't know how to enjoy life, and is lost in a world of clockwork. But everything is about to change when he meets a free-spirit named Bucky (AKA Kid) played by Sam Rockwell who gives the performance of his career. They learn from each other and discover, before, unseen elements of life. It succeeds on many levels, but most importantly has such a rich, multi-layered character study. This includes its characters': sprititual growth (maybe even without finding God yet as the film suggests)self discovery, and setting loose of life's boundaries and morals. There are excellent performances all around (notably Rockwell and Turturro, and Katherine Keener). Not to mention Dicillo's brilliant writing/direction, and outstanding cinematography and music.

enjoyable

[baal rob · 7/10 · 8 September 1999]

I really like John Turturro, and this is one of his best movies. This actually has the makings of a regular buddy movie. Turturro leads the life we all have and Sam Rockwell leads the life we wish we had. They get together, get into some antics, and that's a movie. So what makes this one above average? First, is the truly great performances put in by Turturro and Rockwell. Great acting helps, but this movie has an intelligent script. It takes you on a bizarre journey as these two men come together. It's funny, moving, and somewhat educational. It may not be for everyone, but then again no movie is.

Superb

[almdemo · 10/10 · 26 December 2005]

One of my favourite Films of all time. Top notch performances all round especially turturro and Sam rockwell.

Sad,funny,inspiring and always entertaining this is a film that stays in your mind forever and one to watch over and over again.

The Cinematography is sublime, while the screenplay is spot on.

For Film fans who like their films with a great story .

Not for the blockbuster merchants.

In short : A Classic.

Do yourself a favour and rent this movie out.

Tom dicillio at his best.

Sam Rockwell Does Not Wear Pants

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 12 April 2016]

Al Fountain, a middle-aged electrical engineer, is on the verge of a mid-life crisis, when he decides to take his time coming home from a business trip, rents a car, and heads out looking for a lake he remembers from his childhood. But his wandering takes him into the life of Kid, a free-spirited young man who helps Al escape from the routine of everyday life and find freedom to enjoy himself.

I have to wonder how the films directed by Tom DiCillo seem to remain obscure. Even the "indie" film fans aren't tossing his name around. For those of us who grew up in the early 90s, we were largely introduced to independent film through "Clerks" and then moved on to Jim Jarmusch. But why did we stop? DiCillo is a great next step, or the films that Mike Leigh had been making for decades.

John Turturro is great in this, but that's no surprise because he's always great. More interesting is Sam Rockwell, who was probably still unknown at this point. Heck, even in 2016, he is more B-list than A-list. But we have him here in a large role, and a very bold one -- he spends a good deal of the film without clothes. Not shy, are you?

little jewel of a film

[leelooNS · 9/10 · 9 May 2005]

Due of my obsession for Sam Rockwell i found this wonderful piece of film, knowing absolutely nothing about it, and...what can I say....it's well as we would say it in German: einfach wunderbar.....

Tom DiCillos Film describes in very brilliant scenes how a boring typical American father and husband discovers what life meant to be.... This film has several great scenes in it...the all-American-way of life is present throughout the whole story, showing for example this really fat boy jumping around the pool, or the incredible friendly woman of the car-renal-station....

John Turturro is brilliant as this empty man, who seems to never had any joy in his whole life, accept as a kid at this lake where he travels to, as the had some days off after work.... On his way he meets Buck alias The Kid, a young man who lives deep in the woods far away from every society..For seven days now these very different people get together...and it's so inspiring to see them become...well....some kind of friends.

Sam Rockwell is absolutely gorgeous as The Kid, i had this weird feeling - whenever he's in – i have to embrace this grown-up kid ever and ever again, never let him go.... His face in this scene when Turturro's Character wants to get back the key for his car.... indescribable...wow.... Well....surely i only want to intimate that this film is acting at it's purest.... In the end Turturro's Character as changed, in a little not so obvious way...an me to.

Good character study

[rosscinema · 7/10 · 26 November 2002]

I had no idea what this film was going to be about when I started watching it. I had just gotten my digital cable and had no intention of watching this but once I started I really grew to admire it. I don't think its anything groundbreaking but the characters are all written so well that its always interesting. John Turturro is making one of his rare starring roles and he's good as a middle aged man who has forgotten how to enjoy life and he's in a mid-life crisis. Sam Rockwell is excellent in his biggest role to date. Like I said, nothing really special but an interesting character study. If anyone comes across this film you should give it a chance. It really grows on you! Also, Sam Rockwell is being considered to play Chuck Barris in a film about him so keep that in mind when you check this out.

More full-frontal Sammy...

[SamLowry-2 · 9/10 · 8 April 1999]

Sam Rockwell is an excellent actor. He also does not shy away from quirky roles that require liberal use of nudity. Just as in "Lawn Dogs," Sammy shows it all in "Box of Moonlight." The film is really an actor's showcase for John Tuturro too. He is perfect as the socially inept engineer who is "shown the (moon) light" by Rockwell. One can quibble about the choices the two characters make on their road to emotional "freedom," but the movie is charming none-the-less, and a nice companion film to "Lawn Dogs" in its depiction of life in south central America. This is an "Adult Fable," So suspend your need for action, and discover you have new needs: for character development, for dialog, for symbolism, for magic.

Amusing diversion.

[chets808 · 7/10 · 23 August 2001]

Anyone whose ever been close to an engineer will appreciate John Turturro's splendid portrayal of Al Fountain. From the stiff walk, the upright posture, the technically accurate answers and precise annunciation to the timed phone calls, reserved emotion, you really get a sense that he lives in a different world than Bucky. And Sam Rockwell is just as clever and affecting as the free-spirited Kid.

Although there isn't too much to this movie in terms of production, it stands out as a subtle and ironic tale of opposites attracting. If you're married to or have an engineer close to you, sit them down and watch this movie, they soon will be laughing at themselves.

DiCillo Takes Us On A Memorable Journey Of Discovery

[jhclues · 9/10 · 15 August 2000]

We first meet Al Fountain (John Turturro) at a remote construction site in the country, where he is the foreman. Immediately, we recognize who and what he is: The Boss; obsessive and meticulous about the work, tenacious in regard to detail. At the same time, it is obvious that he is sorely lacking when it comes to his relationship with his crew. Not that he is a bad guy; neither overbearing nor abusive with his employees, he is, in fact, somewhat personable in his own way. It's just that everything in his vision is so clearly cut in black and white. In the world of Al Fountain there are absolutely no shades of gray. This is further established when he phones his wife and young son to check in and give her an update on the job. When he tells her that one of the guys has invited him to play poker that night (much to the chagrin of the rest of the crew), she is ecstatic and encourages him to go. Clearly, she loves him, but knows how he is. When he quizzes his son on his multiplication tables and the response is unacceptable, flash cards are ordered. When Dad gets home there will be another quiz. In a brilliant metaphor, we see the flash cards as they are perceived by the boy; they are huge, nearly as big as he is, Marley's chains he must carry wherever he goes without respite.

When the job is abruptly closed down, Al finds himself with some time to reflect on his life, which he uncharacteristically embraces, prompted by an incident at the poker game the previous evening. At this point the story really begins, and we follow Al on a drive through the country, which ultimately becomes a journey of self-discovery. Along the way he meets 'The Kid,' (Sam Rockwell), a charismatic, though somewhat naive young man who lives alone in the remnants of a trailer situated on a secluded parcel of land far off the beaten path. It is a lifestyle that Al, initially, simply cannot comprehend. When The Kid explains that he lives 'off the grid,' it is beyond anything Al can fathom. In the end, this movie is a textured tale of awareness and the importance of setting one's personal priorities. Extremely well presented and acted, it is touching and poignant without the unnecessary burden (in this case) of undue sentiment.

The supporting cast includes Catherine Keener, Lisa Blount, Annie Corley and Dermot Mulroney. In 'Box of Moonlight,' writer-director Tom DiCillo offers us a journey that is well worth the taking. I rate this one 9/10

Entertaining

[khatcher-2 · 6/10 · 2 September 2001]

`Box of Moonlight' is one of those films where two types are going in opposite directions in life and their paths cross. John Turturro does his part as an electrical engineer very well, overshadowing a little Sam Rockwell in a rôle which seems to hallmark him. Ok: skip this one if you like – but do not pass over `Lawn Dogs', where Rockwell is brilliant together with the ten year old Mischa Barton. `Box of Moonlight' is merely entertaining without reaching any greater compass as the situation is somewhat fairy-tale. Nevertheless, it can be argued that the film makes you think about what you want to do with and get from your life. If you really want to get your teeth into something really profound in which two men of opposite extremes cross paths, I can thoroughly recommend `Le Huitième Jour' (The Eighth Day) a brilliant film with Pascal Duquenne and Daniel Auteuil under the orders of Jaco van Dormael.

I'm sorry, folks - this was pathetic.

[emdoub · 4/10 · 25 August 2009]

There were, indeed, some cute moments, and the acting was just fine. The script, however, presented us with people that were simply unbelievable - they just didn't act or react as any actual people would. A touch of the fantastic can be delightful - but the mother who affirms that her kid is studying (to his father) while he plays video games just doesn't exist. The husband/wife relationship was ... vaguely polite. The boss/work crew relationship could only be imagined by someone who has never actually had a job - certainly none that they did well.

One wonders where the writer/director lives - this movie gives the firm impression that they've never actually seen any people who weren't on a television screen.

That's a couple of hours I'll never get back.

Simply great.

[SkaVenger · 20 March 1999]

Tom diCillo's most succesful film is the also great 'Living In Oblivion', but 'Box Of Moonlight' is my favorite one. This movie is really excellent, among all the films that deserved success but didn't get it, this film is the one that deserved it the most, a real life experience. Probably John Torturro best part ever and of his best performances too. This is his best film since Miller's Crossing (91, by Coen Bros.). If you wanna see a real masterpiece, go check this one out and, I bet, you'll remember it for the rest of your life.

Al Fountain? My alter-ego?

[gamay9 · 7/10 · 12 September 2013]

There were several reasons why I found this film interesting and amusing: A. I could have been Al Fountain. How many times have I been told 'You can't see the forest for the trees?' B. Lisa Blount didn't look much different than she did in 'An Officer and a Gentleman' but Catherine Keener looked 'cute' and much younger than she did in 2000, not many years after 'Box of Moonlight' was released. I wish they had all skinny-dipped, but Catherine Keener '...won't do that..' (a line from a Meat Loaf song).

C. Sam Rockwell was superb; Turturro played the straight man to a 'T.' This film must have held my interest because it seemed to be a 'short.' Any time a film goes by too quickly, in my opinion, it has to be a winner. Do you feel the same way?

Great Movie - Must see Indie!

[lmcgroom · 10/10 · 6 February 2003]

This is a great little movie that few people have seen. It's about Al Fountain's business trip to the boonies. Al's an uptight, must to everything by the book kinda guy. Because of this, his workers make fun of him and his little boy is a little intimidated.

Once Al gets to the boonies, the work contract is cancelled. Al decides to try and find a lake he went to as a kid. This is the jest of the whole movie for me. Al realizes he is acting too "adult-like" and wants to find the inner-kid in himself. I think we can all relate to this on some level.

I won't ruin the whole movie because you REALLY need to see it, but by accident, Al meets Bucky (the Kid) and remembers what it is like to be carefree and childlike. I think in turn, that helps him with his familly life. Kudos to John Turturro and Sam Rockwell for their roles in this movie!

A confusing message

[mesaxi · 6/10 · 9 July 2021]

I enjoyed the movie but I was surprised that the movie ending without ever really resolving the conflict of the main character's infidelity. Maybe there's a message to it that I didn't get, like enjoy life but don't get carried away? I dunno, would have definitely given it another star or two if it had been addressed.

Otherworldly

[baggins39 · 9/10 · 29 August 2001]

"Box of Moonlight" succeeds utterly in transporting the viewer to the very heart of the story, to a special and brilliantly realised "back woods of the mind" very early on and terrific performances by Sam Rockwell and John Turturro(never better), ensure that this gem of a movie lingers long in the memory.

Minor, but generally appealing

[allyjack · 6/10 · 2 September 1999]

Pretty appealing movie, with the same studied (potentially precious) weirdness that inspired DiCillo's Living In Oblivion and blew apart The Real Blonde - this movie ends up somewhere in between, often successful scene by scene but finally pretty inconsequential assessed as a whole. Still, at least DiCillo doesn't overdo the extent of Turturro's ultimate character revelation - it's a modest synthesis (and on TV we see the minister who tried to convert Turturro being dragged to jail for murdering some errant parishioners - proving the fragility of easy solutions). Maybe the movie goes too enthusiastically for easy tricks like Turturro seeing things running backwards in his desire to stop time, but the main appeal is in the unhurried pace and the nuances of Turturro's boxed-in existence, and then in the oddity of the details. Robards is a bit too much of a standard-issue holy fool, designed to show the way to true spiritual wealth, but the two make a good pair (although the details of Turturro's regeneration - nude bathing, raw tomatoes off the vine, free sex - are again less than original).

Brilliant

[ddn32 · 10/10 · 28 December 2000]

This is a touching and incredibly funny movie which shows what American filmmakers who who haven't succumbed to Hollywood money can do. The characters, even the oddball Buck, seem real and believable. It is slow moving, but you do not want it to end. Anybody caught up in a midlife crisis should watch this moving as its message is a good "battery recharger".

Rockwell's Show

[saint_brett · 7/10 · 1 May 2023]

I'm firing up the old DVD player tonight, and it's covered in all this year-old soot and dust.

Okay, enough with the flying drone introduction at the start credits already.

So, the deforestation of some woods is being paved to make way for the factory that was used in "Contamination.7," aka "Crawlers." There's a movie I should review, as some believe it's actually "Troll 3." I know this dude. He was the pizza guy in "Do the Right Thing." You'd want all customer service to be like his, not like the rude Asian couple who sells you batteries and calls you names like that.

From what I can gather, the pizza guy graduated to a supervisor who overlooks the construction site of "Contamination.7," and all the hired hands working under him despise him for no good reason until the budget runs out for the movie and they're all made redundant. No wonder that movie flopped so badly.

Some David Lynch weirdness sees unusual filming scenes in reverse and without explanation.

I'm probably not paying attention to their meaning, but I don't get it.

"Life is a drive down the road." Yeah, until the Zodiac tampers with your tires, picks you up, and threatens to kill you and your baby.

You've got to watch out for those detours, road humps, and roundabouts in life.

For every Zodiac, there are two Jeffrey Dahmer's out there. Life has a funny way of throwing obstacles at you. Did you ever see that comic strip where God is making the world and he has a pepper shaker with the label jerks on it?

The former pizza guy encounters a few oddballs on his way to Splashy Mountain, where he's under the impression that a childhood theme park will still be there in all its former glory, retaining that nostalgic touch from the late 60s, but like most theme parks back in the day, it's now a dilapidated, rundown dump that's worse than the one you see in "Freddy's Dead." (This part strikes a nerve as there are about three of these places around my area that are now overgrown with rust, weeds, memories, and snakes.) The former pizza guy hooks up with Davy Crockett, who used to work at Buc-ee's and is a few foibles short of my Aunty Marlene.

"Life is a tomato right off the vine." Yeah, and apparently it's a fruit and not a vegetable? I've never seen anyone order tomatoes and ice cream. I don't believe that crap about tomatoes being a fruit for one second. You don't put tomatoes in your fruit salad. I want an inquiry into the origins of that immediately!

What's with all these Forest Gump adages?

Isn't this the same set where Sam Rockwell lived in "Lawn Dogs?" I know it's too late to say this, but I think Rockwell and River Phoenix would have made a great movie together.

The cover of this movie is wrong to have Dermot Mulroney on it and no picture of Rockwell, as the movie belongs to Rockwell.

He steals the show again. (What, he never burped in this one?) The movie's about self-discovery as the inner-city former pizza guy rekindles his love of adventure and becomes a free spirit again.

He's reluctant to admit, or show, that he's a child again when finding himself and covers this well with the guise of a grown adult who has parental responsibilities and a position of authority. In short, what I'm trying to say is, Well, you know that adage about taking the stick out of your um? Yeah, there you go! That's this guy. It's safe to say that one could say to him, "Why so serious?" Turturro's stuck-up ways - with the stick - proved that he was an unlikeable character.

This gun scene in the "Contamination .7" factory is what it's all about. What a blast!

Literally, what a blast!

It's not a movie that can be described in a written review; it has to be seen to be experienced.

And you have to put yourself in either Rockwell's or Turturro's shoes.

You're one or the other. And you can relate to one of them.

I'm a little bit of both.

But I've never found myself, nor will I ever, for that matter.

If you must know, I'm halfway stuck between being a city person and a country person in one. (Hard to explain.)

I still like "Lawn Dogs" better.

Totally Charmed

[1shaman · 10/10 · 22 December 2002]

After a 3 week wait I finally got the DVD and was able to see the whole film. It's a masterwork. The DVD includes a detailed director's running commentary for the entire length of the movie. This is a must do for anyone fascinated by independent filmmaking. I watched the movie, watched it with the commentary, then watched the whole movie again back with normal sound. The director's honesty is engaging, just like the movie itself. It was honesty that led him to show Sam Rockwell frontal nudity instead of - typically - stripping the women. But this led to an "R" rating and may have been a box office turnoff. The budget was $3M, and I hope they made it back several times over. I was charmed by this movie and intend to see every Tom DiCillo film ever made.

Kramer takes a roadtrip

[zabletanotovna · 6/10 · 30 April 2020]

As slow-paced as this movie is, it has a very chill vibe and a good sense of humor. I find the main character similar to Kramer from Seinfeld, so if anyone wants to imagine what his roadtrip would look like, this is it. It is generally a very chill movie - not too bad, not too good.

Inane

[bandw · 2/10 · 7 October 2012]

It's interesting how different people can look at the same thing and come away with such diverse reactions. I decided to watch this based on the many positive comments I had read. Unfortunately I cannot pitch my tent in that camp, since this movie never engaged me.

John Turturro plays Al Fountain, an uptight electrical engineer who is away from home and in charge of a construction crew somewhere in the southeast US. When Al catches his crew having some fun fifteen minutes before knocking off for the day, he instructs them to get back to work. The sight of Tutturro in a hard hat being taken seriously by a bunch of burly construction workers should have alerted me that this movie was going to be part fantasy, and that turned out to be the case.

The first part of the movie is spent in showing us what a nerd Al is. A closet full of neatly hung white shirts and dark pants, nightly calls home at precisely 9:00 PM, an inability to get along with ordinary people, stilted phone conversations with his wife and son, and so forth.

Obviously Al needs to be shown how to loosen up a bit and appreciate the wondrous variety of experience, and sure enough Al meets just the right person to introduce him to more abundant living, The Kid. The Kid (Sam Rockwell), in buckskins, is a rifle-toting young lad wearing a coonskin hat who deals in selling such items as plastic deer and garden gnomes. Through a sequence of unlikely events Al winds up staying at The Kid's house--a facing wall opening onto an open-air courtyard that is lighted like it is decorated for a large Christmas party. The Kid frequently comments that he is off the grid, so how he powered his lights and television puzzled me. There are elements of pure fantasy, such as Al's seeing things in reverse like water being poured into a glass or a kid riding a bicycle. Why these irrelevant scenes were in there escaped me. In the director's commentary he remarks that these scenes were filmed by running the sequences backward. Who would have imagined that? I realize that questioning the believability of anything here is not to accept what I perceive is meant to be quirky whimsy. But I could not accept the absurdities presented.

And what are the rewards of living a more carefree life? Such things as shooting out expensive window glass, jumping into lakes naked, cheating on your wife, shooting holes in tubs of paint, getting beat up while others stand around watching helplessly, eating crushed Oreo cookies and milk for breakfast, and so forth. Is an argument being made here for the value of being a nerd, and staying a nerd?