RACING WITH THE MOON (1984)
Label: Fun City Editions
Region Code: A
Rating: PG
Duration: 108 Minutes 24 Seconds
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Richard Benjamin
Cast: Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGoven, Nicolas Cage, Carol Kane, John Karlen, Rutanya Alda
Racing with the Moon (1984) is a romantic period drama directed by Richard Benjamin (The Money Pit), who I always remember from his acting days in stuff like Scavenger Hunt (1979). It's set a small coastal community in Mendocino County, California during 1943, where teenagers Henry "Hopper" Nash (Sean Penn, At Close Range) and his buddy Nicky (Nicolas Cage, Renfield) have enlisted into the Marine Corps. to fight in WWII. The film tracks their lives for the six weeks before they start their enlistment. They both work at the local bowling alley as pinsetters, back when they did that by hand, and this bittersweet coming of age tale depicts their encounters with he opposite sex, each in their own ways, with Hopper falling head-over-heels for Caddie (Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey), while his pal Nick attempts to have sex with as many young women as possible. Hopper's tale is that of first love, while Nick manages to knock-up Sally (Suzanne Adkinson).
It's a wonderfully tender film, especially concerning the budding first-love between Hopper and Caddie, their relationship is beautiful and wonderous, with plenty of on-screen chemistry between pair, Caddie having a sweet disposition and a smile that pretty much made me fall in love with her as well. There is a bit of error on Hopper's part when he mistakes her for a "Gatsby girl", a wealthy local family, and the relationship does hit a rough patch, but the connection is too strong to fray tot he breaking point. Cage as Hopper's best pal Nick is the bad influence of the pair, convincing Hopper to try to hustle Navy soldiers at a local pool hall, while hanging out at the bowling alley after hours drinking beers while buffing the lanes, with Nicky faux crooning into his mop handle. He also manages to rope both Hopper and Caddie into accompanying him on a midnight trip to a backwoods abortion, which causes friction amongst the group.
Backwoods abortion aside it's quite a wonderful tale of WWII era Americana, the period setting is nostalgic and evocative, the cast is really terrific, and the story of love and coming-of-age is both beautiful and bittersweet, yet balanced and not saccharine as some period set romance stories can sometimes be. The film also features John Karlen (Dark Shadows) and Rutanya Alda (Vigilante) as Hopper's loving parents, the gap-toothed Max Showalter (Sixteen Candles) as Mr. Walters, and Friday the 13th; The Final Chapter alums Crispin Glover and Barbara Howard as wealthy rich kids, as well as Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs) as a war-scarred soldier, Michael Talbot (Used Cars) as a Navy soldier, and Carol Kane (When A Stranger Calls) as a local prostitute.
The flick is a very handsomely mounted period drama with rich period costuming and details that draws you right into the era, gorgeously shot by cinematographer John Bailey (Cat People) with a marvelous period appropriate score by Dave Grusin (The Goonies).
Audio/Video: For it's 40th anniversary Racing with the Moon (1984) makes its worldwide Blu-ray debut from Fun City Editions, presented in 1080p HD widescreen (1.85:1) with a brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative. The source looks wonderful, rich grain structures abound, the greenery of the rural landscape and wind-swept cliffs overlooking the ocean, with plenty of warm, nostalgic colors, and solid black levels. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 with optional English subtitles. The track is clean and well-balanced, dialogue sounds authentic and is never a chore to decipher, and the score by Dave Grusin (The Fabulous Baker Boys) sounds fantastic.
Extras include an Audio commentary by Bill Ackerman and Marya E. Gates; an Archival audio commentary by director Richard Benjamin; and an Archival making-of featurette with director Richard Benjamin, Producers Alain Bernheim, Sherry Lansing, and Stanley R. Jaffe, and actress Elizabeth McGovern; plus an Image Gallery with movie posters, behind-the0scenes images, and lobby cards.
The single-disc release arrives in a clear keepcase with a Reversible Wrap with not just two, but three legacy artworks, plus a 12- Page Illustrated Booklet with new 'Hopper and Caddie in the Moonlight essay by Walter Chaw (First Pressing Only).
Special Features:
- Audio commentary by Bill Ackerman and Marya E. Gates
- Archival Audio Commentary by director Richard Benjamin
- Archival making-of featurette (19:53)
- Image Gallery (7:34)
- Trailer (1:45)
- Double-sided wrap with legacy artwork
- 12- Page Illustrated Booklet with new 'Hopper and Caddie in the Moonlight essay by Walter Chaw (first pressing only)
Screenshots from the Fun City Editions Blu-ray:
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