The premise is a good idea for a dark comedy with a minimal amount of drama, moralizing, etc. Bit of a stretch to have grieving parents so embrace an "almost" son-in-law. Bad casting: Hoffman's too heavy, Jake G. walks around in a stupor. Sarandon and Pompeo shine though again, they're given too much heavy drama wherein their funny banter is more appealing.
MM gives new definition to the term "sinks under its own weight". Whatever the makers intended, toward the end, the cat is out of the bag about Jake and Diane's breakup so the only conflict is her parents inability to accept Diane's death. Jake's affair is interesting but too convoluted to have suspense, although Pompeo's appearances are bright spots throughout the film.
In a nutshell, MM should've been a comedy - albeit a morose one. Its descent into drama makes the circumstances unbelievable. I'm a lawyer who does some criminal defense who's long since learned to cut courtroom scenes some license. Not this time. Jake/Joe would've never made it to the stand: His "loss" is for the penalty phase as he knows nothing about the crime. Even a bad judge would've cut off his ridiculous "sermon" on the stand, poorly delivered anyway.
NOTE: I'd thought "moonlight mile" was a metaphor like "primrose path", low road", etc. MM features the Stones song of the same title. Great song. But what's "moonlight mile", the song or the meaning of the words, got to do with the story?
MM gives new definition to the term "sinks under its own weight". Whatever the makers intended, toward the end, the cat is out of the bag about Jake and Diane's breakup so the only conflict is her parents inability to accept Diane's death. Jake's affair is interesting but too convoluted to have suspense, although Pompeo's appearances are bright spots throughout the film.
In a nutshell, MM should've been a comedy - albeit a morose one. Its descent into drama makes the circumstances unbelievable. I'm a lawyer who does some criminal defense who's long since learned to cut courtroom scenes some license. Not this time. Jake/Joe would've never made it to the stand: His "loss" is for the penalty phase as he knows nothing about the crime. Even a bad judge would've cut off his ridiculous "sermon" on the stand, poorly delivered anyway.
NOTE: I'd thought "moonlight mile" was a metaphor like "primrose path", low road", etc. MM features the Stones song of the same title. Great song. But what's "moonlight mile", the song or the meaning of the words, got to do with the story?