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Review

Based on experiences in his own life, writer-director Silberling (City of Angels) examines the devastating effect the death of a young woman has on her parents and fiancé. However, in the shadow of such emotionally honest, similarly themed films as In the Bedroom and The Son's Room, Moonlight Mile's superficiality only ends up sabotaging occasionally moving scenes of loss and grief inherit in the story. Diana and Joe were engaged to be married, but days before the wedding Diana was shot to death. Joe and Diana's grief-stricken parents, JoJo and Ben, console each other in small acts of solace, but are unable to communicate or acknowledge the pain they are feeling. Silberling's story follows what it takes for each survivor to move on, allowing each actor the opportunity to benefit from their many poignant scenes together. However, the path to recovery isn't as fully explored as it could have been, and as a result certain story lines become muted and trivial. Despite the film's shortcomings, the acting is terrific and many scenes resonate, ensuring that Moonlight Mile is nothing less than compelling.