ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

lasttimeisaw This is my third entry into Alan Parker's filmography (after BIRDY 1984, 8/10 and THE LIFE OF David GALE 2003, 7/10), SHOOT THE MOON is a visceral divorce drama, centres on Faith and George Dunlap (Keaton and Finney), a couple married for 15 years with four daughters, living in a quaint farmhouse near San Francisco, George is a successful writer, but he has an affair with a divorcée Sandy (Allen), from the beginning Parker and screenwriter Goldman manifestly position George as the one who gets frustrated in their marriage, and should be responsible for the dissolution of their marriage.It is understandable George is suffocated by the domestic hoopla created by their four young daughters, as the opening sequences vividly render how the family bliss looks like when Faith is surrounded by the non-stopping children's nagging, and for men, the situation could be disheartening, which creates a plausible excuse for his affair, but after a second thought, it is actually a lame one, as it is the couple's concerted agreement to have so many children, why complain now? I hope Goldman doesn't suggest that children is the main factor that causes the disintegration although it apparently seems so. Thus, George leaves, and lives with Sandy and her son together, while Faith fumbles around with her new life sans George, so viewers sympathy is totally on her, and the children, especially their eldest daughter Sherry (Hill, actually is the best thing in the film as the premature girl tormented by her parents' divorce), whose silent treatment towards her father will trigger George's nut-case behaviour on her birthday. Yes, George is a nut-case apart from being an adulterer, things worsen when Faith moves on with a casual romance with a contractor Frank (Weller), who is paid to build a tennis court outside their house. Eventually George will be demonised as a complete lunatic driven by his arbitrary jealousy in the final act, it is a baffling climax felt much too contrived. So, what should it make audience feel? The ex- husband cannot stand his ex-wife being happy again with another man, although he is content with his new lover, does he want her back after they rekindle a one-night passion thanks to the magic potion of alcohol? Personally, no a fan of the gimmick that shifts all the blame on the husband while still makes him an impenitent jerk. The performances are basically serviceable, Keaton is at her best with her unglamorous candidness when transits from a downcast victim to a nonplussed object-of-desire. Finney, great in hiding his British accent, unfortunately is quite repulsive to keep viewers investing in his emotional roller-coaster (lol to the reference from Sandy to the girls that having sex with their dad is like eating ice cream, she clearly doesn't see through what a lost cause he is). Without an assignment of score, the film is intermittently accompanied by the scoreless bars of piano music interludes, reminiscent of the love lost in time, and occasionally, the scenic cinematography is breathtaking to watch. However it tallies with its time when divorce becomes a topical trend in America's silver screen, the film fails to connect with new audience owing to its blatant dramatisation and poor character developments, sorry Mr. Parker.

Ouarda This is the best film I've ever seen on how someone can destroy the very foundation that nourishes them, and then, ultimately, resort to the most dramatic measures when they realize what they've done. This is a case study in how couples grow apart. The acting on the part of Diane Keaton and Albert Finney is among the best of their distinguished careers. Ditto Karen Allen, Peter Weller, and most of all, Dana Hill. There are scenes in this film that will stay in my mind forever, especially the one where Diane Keaton is crying while singing "If I Fell" in the bathtub. The soundtrack is outstanding and the songs are used to perfection. Notice the use of "Play With Fire" when Diane Keaton and Peter Weller start their affair.The movie to me is about how when one person loses touch with themselves, they take so many other people down with them. George is not a bad guy but he has grown irreparably apart from his family. As with many extremely successful people, living in one of the most prestigious counties in the United States, he lost touch of the man he was and what he needs most. The scenes between Albert Finney and Dana Hill, who plays his oldest daughter, are absolutely heart wrenching.Personally, I think the ultra-dramatic ending is extremely raw and honest. It still haunts me after all these years.I will always give this film a 10 out of 10.

asc85 1982 was arguably one of the greatest film years in recent memory, with releases including "E.T.", "Gandhi," and "Sophie's Choice." Still, I would say that the best film of 1982 - and one of the best films of the 1980's - was "Shoot the Moon." I am not sure exactly why this film never got the acclaim it deserved...certainly there were many great films that year that overshadowed it. Moreover, it might have been too visceral for some...a couple I knew who were previously divorced from other people were extremely offended by the movie, and found it gratuitous.I have only seen two films be successful in making the lead characters so likable in one scene, and then so unlikeable in the next scene. This is one of them (the other one is "Twice in a Lifetime"). Bo Goldman's screenplay is tremendous. Diane Keaton's rendition of "If I Fell" while soaking in the bathtub is one of the most haunting and powerful scenes I have ever seen. Also, the scene towards the end of the movie in the restaurant where Finney and Keaton are loudly arguing with each other to the annoyance of other patrons is extremely well done and enjoyable. I believe most of the scene is done in a long take. On regular TV, that scene is butchered due to the language, and they show cut-aways to other patrons to get away with that.It's been more than 20 years since "Shoot the Moon" was released, and I'm not sure what I could say that would motivate someone to see this film for the first time. But it truly is great. Pauline Kael thought so too, and I'm sure she will carry much more weight with movie fans than me!

mmitsos-1 If you haven't seen "Shoot the Moon", see it. It is very difficult to find, as it appears to be out of print. To a degree, it reminds me of "The Pumpkin Eater" (Eng., 1964), with Anne Bancroft and Peter Finch. Both films deal with bad marriages, in which the husband cheats. Also, the husbands in both films are writers (Peter Finch plays a screenwriter, Albert Finney plays a novelist), and the wives are very supportive, up to a point. However, comparisons seems to end at this point, as "Shoot the Moon" really portrays the emotional stages of divorce and its effects on the entire family and others in their environs whereas "The Pumpkin Eater" focuses mostly on the character of Jo Armitage, played by Anne Bancroft, and her proclivity to have children and find most of her self-worth in raising children.Diane Keaton and Albert Finney play the husband and wife in "Shoot the Moon", and they are both absolutely superb in their roles. 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. Diane Keaton's scene singing in the bathtub is particularly moving, as is the scene in which Albert Finney wants to give his eldest daughter her birthday present. This whole latter scene was portrayed very realistically....no sugar-coating here, and for that, I applaud Parker and the cast. Keaton's scene with Peter Weller (who plays Frank) on their first "date" was also very realistic and low-key, considering the emotions her character Faith is going through, just re-entering the "dating" scene since her husband left her. Faith's announcement of her knowledge of her husband's affair, to her husband, in the middle of talking about running out of orange juice, was also so realistic. This screenplay was simply very well written all the way around. I might not agree with the ending entirely; but, it was a story option that was plausibly pursued. On a few other notes, the soundtrack offers a nice throwback to the '70's (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. In retrospect, it was sorely overlooked on Oscar night.