Pale Blue Moon

One of the nagging worries that I have any time that I sit down to watch a feature-length independent film is that it will drag its feet or not catch my interest until it's already half-finished.

Pale Blue Moon is that odd film that completely avoids that. From the moment that Simon Applewhite shakily begins to explain the Morgon (moon-dwelling people) invasion, to the marvelous ending (which I won't give away), I was riveted. Excellent writing, wonderful direction, and incredible performances.

Most noteworth is Ice Mrozek as Simon Applewhite. He is both endearing and annoying in his role and I honestly can't imagine any big names in Hollywood doing a better job. Remarkable and touching. Johnny Sneed is given the somewhat difficult job of playing straight man John Lefsburg opposite Mrozek's Simon, and manages to pull this off without being completely overshadowed.

The storyline, as stated before, catches your interest quickly and doesn't release it until the credits role. By the middle of the movie, I was completely undecided on who was sane and who was crazy. This was an excellent film all around and Mark Hosack is to be congratulated. Possibly thanked for a much more enjoyable cinematic experience than I've had in quite some time.

In Gibbings, Texas, the delusional Simon Applewhite (Íce Mrozek) is interrogated by two detectives and he tells nonsense sentences about an alien invasion. He tells that he was abducted when he was a child by the aliens Morgons a.k.a. Moonies that always come in threes, never in twos or fours or alone, from the dark side of the moon. People should not look them in the eyes and the aliens communicate to the moon using the radio tower. Further, they can be identified through their right nipples.

Detective John Lefsburg (Johnny Sneed), who lost his daughter and has an unbalanced wife, is assigned to take Simon to a mental institution in Madison. Along their troubled journey, Simon tells that the powerful Frank Coen (Thurman Moss) is the ambassador of the aliens. Simon escapes from John and kidnaps the goddaughter of Frank. Along his journey with Simon, Detective Lefsburg learns the truth about the Moonies.

"Pale Blue Moon" is an amateurish and boring garbage with annoying characters and situations. The idea of an abused boy that has a distorted view of reality is not bad, but the screenplay, performances and camera work are terrible and painful to watch. My vote is one (awful).

Title (Brazil): "O Extermínio" ("The Extermination")

I didn't really know what I was getting myself into here, as I sat down in 2021 to watch the 2002 sci-fi comedy "Pale Blue Moon". But I must admit that I was expecting a bit more fun and laughs than what writer and director Mark Hosack could manage to deliver.

The storyline had potential, for sure. But it just failed to deliver. To me, this storyline was not entertaining, enjoyable or particularly enticing. I didn't really buy into the storyline and thus it was a struggle to sit through the ordeal that is "Pale Blue Moon".

Now, what made the movie crash and burn was the character gallery. The characters in this movie were just laughable. I didn't connect with a single of the characters in the movie, and I didn't really find any of them enjoyable to watch on the screen. And little did it help that the written dialogue was just rubbish.

I am sure that the acting performances were good enough, given the material that the actors and actresses had to work with; which was limiting to say the least.

Visually then "Pale Blue Moon" offers virtually nothing worthwhile of any sorts. In fact, parts of the movie were just filmed so shoddy that it felt like amateur night with a video camera.

Nay, "Pale Blue Moon" was a swing and miss. And it is definitely not a movie that I would recommend you rush out to dig up somewhere to give it a view. Much less actually having to pay for it.

My rating of the 2002 movie "Pale Blue Moon" lands on a two out of ten stars. This was just too boring.

I liked the general storyline, but there were too many unbelievable plot elements, like a police officer having to transport a mentally disturbed and agitated man in the passenger seat of his own vehicle with no restraints, with no rationale for such a decision provided by the story. The consequences of that decision are, of course, completely predictable, but the officer never learns from any of those consequences. And exactly what happened in the ending is anybody's guess. Mrozek gives a good performance as the mentally disturbed Simon Applewhite. I'd like to see a remake that fixes the flaws of this movie.

Some of the reviewers correctly point out that this film isn't sci-fi. I have to agree with them; however, there are elements that echo "X-Files" enough to allow me to use that reference in my title. Mark Hosack has written and directed an effective piece of film making that--at times-- is uneven, but is worth your investment in time.

Ice Mrozek is Simon Applewhite whom we meet at this police interrogation. Mrozek--even tho' a sporadic career--is on target as a person who seems autistic at first until we learn the truth late in the film.

There is one sequence between Mrozek and a kidnap victim (played by Brittany Praven) that was worth my time investment. She threatens to scream and does so. Mrozek joins her in a cacophonous roar that is compelling.

The unraveling of the plot is, regrettably, somewhat uneven which is why I cannot give this film a 100% endorsement. The tone is uneven--going back and forth between a serious buddy type movie (a la the "Rain Man" reference above) to childhood trauma (see the "X-Files" reference) to uneven comedic sequences. This unevenness is bothersome, tho' I perhaps understand why: director Hosack has a provocative theme but lacks the storytelling skills of an experienced director to bring this theme home effectively. Tho' flawed, I still believe you will find your time well- spent.

So the acting by Mrozek and the plot/theme are two issues that recommend this film. I have to include the sub-plot of guilt which also I find compelling. Johnny Sneed plays John Lefsburg-- detective who is in a struggling marriage since his daughter was killed in a traffic accident. The plot addresses this sub-plot in an interesting manner toward the end which helps tie up the threads and speaks truth about the pain of loss and the blaming that compounds that pain.

There are some images of child abuse that can be disturbing and also images of spouse abuse. Please keep in mind that both of these plot aspects are there to assist the themes. And the images of this abuse are not gratuitous.

Give this film chance. Mrozek is compelling. If he had name recognition like Hoffman, no one would be surprised of his success today. Also, give the film a chance to work on you. Don't be bothered by its NOT being real sci-fi and let the story happen. You could be pleasantly surprised.