Box of Moonlight (1997)

TOMATOMETER

59%
20%

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

81%

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Movie Info

In this quirky fable, the unexpected onset of a middle-age crisis leads a rigidly punctual electrical engineer to a timeless place where he learns that there is indeed life without deadlines. Al Fountain's (John Turturro) epiphany comes while he is overseeing the construction of a windshield-wiper plant in Drip Rock, Tennessee. Rigid, hyper-punctual (his wife in New York could set her watch by the consistently precise timing of his nightly phone calls) and humorless, Al wins no friends among the crewmen. One day he overhears them feeling a little sorry for him for being such a stiff. Soon after, he finds a gray hair in his comb. Then, in his hotel room, he begins having frightening visions of the world moving in reverse. Still he conceals his inner turmoil until his job is abruptly cancelled. Without really knowing why, he decides to remain in Drip Rock for a while and so lets his wife believe that everything's okay. One day, he helps a stranded motorist named The Kid (Sam Rockwell). He asks Al to tow his car to his strange and colorful trailer in the woods where The Kid invites him to stay. The free-form, undisciplined Kid proves to be Al's opposite, but still the two forge a friendship that changes Al's life.
  • Rating:
    R (adult situations/language, nudity, violence)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Tom DiCillo
  • Written By:
    Tom DiCillo
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Trimark

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Cast

John Turturro
as Al Fountain
Sam Rockwell
as The Kid
Catherine Keener
as Floatie Dupre
Lisa Blount
as Purlene Dupre
Dermot Mulroney
as Wick
Annie Corley
as Deb Fountain
Rica Martens
as Doris
Ray Aranha
as Soapy
Alexander Goodwin
as Bobby Fountain
Mike Stanley
as Doob
Robert Wightman
as Dex
James Richardson
as Taco
Stephen Dupree
as Elwood
Eugene Wolf
as Lyle
Reathel Bean
as Luvven Coddle
Betty Wills Stephens
as Wynelle Coddle
Linda Libby
as Curious Waitress
Ernest R. Ogg
as Motel Clerk
Gary Lowery
as Earl Sykes
Bodi Soham
as Willard Snarp
Horace E. Smith
as Barnett
Stuart Greer
as Stinky
John E. Davis
as Sheriff
Gene Patterson
as Male Newscaster
Kristin Hoke
as Female Newscaster
Buddy Landel
as Uncle Samson
Chaz Warrington
as Castroater
Glenn Ruth
as Saddam Insane
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Critic Reviews for Box of Moonlight

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (5)

There's wonderful chemistry between the eccentric John Turturro and the ever-likeable Sam Rockwell

Jan 3, 2013 | Rating: B-
EmanuelLevy.Com

Worth a look for Rockwell fans.

Apr 9, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
eFilmCritic.com

The film is meant to be a whimsical romp, and it takes some time to getting used to eccentric actor John Turturro as Everyman in Middle America!

Apr 30, 2006 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
EmanuelLevy.Com

Charming, quirky little comedy with standout performance from Rockwell.

Aug 24, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Road movie about the spiritual transformation of an uptight and unhappy individual.

Aug 29, 2002 | Full Review…
Spirituality and Practice
View All Critic Reviews (17)

Audience Reviews for Box of Moonlight

½

Love Sam Rockwell. Did not love this film. John Turturro's character was on my nerves from the get go. I personally don't see how one weekend spent with a free spirit can change a man's whole outlook on life. His poor, suffering wife and child seemed RELIEVED he was away from home. I can't blame them. I have to say I could feel no kinship with the main character, and the movie just seemed pointless to me.

Cynthia S.
Cynthia S.

Super Reviewer

½

Pretty good film.

Leigh Ryan
Leigh Ryan

Super Reviewer

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