On Nov. 6 Warner releases SHOOT THE MOON along with UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE. Also on the same date are BIG HAND FOR A LITTLE LADY and RICH AND FAMOUS. I have been waiting for SHOOT THE MOON for years. Really good news along with WIND AND LION CD.
This is excellent news. I haven't seen the film in decades, and was just re-reading Pauline Kael's rave of the film (and she normally despised Alan Parker films) and was wishing it would come out.
I have never seen it also. But I hear it's quite good. Albert Finney and Diane Keaton shouting at each other is quite an interesting prospect. Reportedly, Parker and Finney didn't really see eye to eye during shooting.
Alan Parker did quite a few good films. Angela's Ashes is underrated, IMHO. So is Angel Heart.
I just watched this for the first time because the passing of Alan Parker inspired me to go to his list of films and rewatch or catch up on some of his movies.
I've long known of this film. It got good reviews at the time, but was released in the January-February wasteland as circumstances didn't allow it to compete with Diane Keaton's Dec. '81 release of Reds. I never had a real good "hook" to see it until now.
I was expecting a sensitive, adult look at a divorce in which kids were involved - sort of a more serious Author! Author! - and Shoot the Moon is assuredly that, but I was not expecting how it ended. Certainly Keaton's character wasn't expecting it. And nor do I think Albert Finney's character expected to do what he did. Wow, maybe not a good film to watch right before getting ready for bed! I'm now all shaken up trying to piece together how that last sequence happened. Thinking of earlier scenes (certainly one intense scene in particular) that give clues.
Bravo, Parker and writer Bo Goldman for not going for the pat ending which would have been the case had the movie ended a few minutes earlier.
