This is a sweet, simple movie but yet with the strange Tom Dicillo stamp on it.John Turtturo is great as an uptight engineer on the verge of a mid-life crisis.Sam Rockwell as "The Kid" brings a great contrast to Turtturo's character and makes for a wonderful chemistry between the two.Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener are great at playing oddball characters. As a matter of fact the movie is loaded with day players with great one liners.Simply shot -- it works.The kind of movies à la "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" you'll fall in love with and will able to watch over and over and over. I never get tired of it.

I have watched this movie exactly 5 times now and each time I watch it I appreciate it more.I loved the part where Al Fountain chills in the towed Ford Galaxy and closes his eyes and enjoys the ride.Something for people to notice: The breakfast cereal the Kid serves is NOT Oreos---but Hydrox cookies, which were discontinued a few years ago. I miss Hydrox!Sam Rockwell's Kid is what stays with me after I see this move. His free spirit and "living off the grid" is a little inspiring.One of my favorite movies ever!!

Director Tom DiCillo has all the attributes required for a top indie film maker. He displays a sharp humorous edge coupled with an all round smartness. But his advantage over his peers is that his works are permeated with a genuine and very winning romanticism (realized best in "Real Blonde").The premise of "Box of Moonlight" is indeed a romantic one. Two complete opposites who by all accounts would steer clear of each other are instinctively drawn together when destiny wills a chance encounter. They will learn important life lessons from each other and part the richer. It is in effect a delightful spin on the buddy movie.John Turturro and Sam Rockwell are the least likely buddies one could imagine. Turturro plays the rigid, time obsessive and orderly engineer against Rockwell's wild, irresponsible back to nature outcast. Turturro's Al Fountain senses much is not well in his life and subconsciously perceives that Rockwell's "The Kid" might just be what he is so much in need of; someone to release those parts of his personality which adulthood and its encumbering responsibilities has suffocated. "The Kid" indeed accomplishes this in a variety of ways including coaxing Al to reach his inner child in the wonderful tomato throwing scene and luring him into an touching adolescent one night stand with Floatie played beautifully by Catherine Keener, a DiCillo favorite. By the end of the movie Al will return home a far better husband and father.Just how Rockwell's "The Kid" will be effected is less clear. He is clearly a severely deluded character functioning more as a symbol rather than a credible person. In lesser hands it could have come off ludicrous, but Rockwell nails it perfectly in what would be his break through role. There's a palpable chemistry between the buddies which is so vital for making this story work."Box of Moonlight" is a modern day fable, a cautionary tale reminding us not to allow adulthood smother us. It's a tale told with tremendous charm and a movie to be cherished.

was there any relevance or symbolism to al seeing like water and other things go in reverse, like the kid riding back from where he came. was it just suppose to be al losing it, or was it symbolic of him wanting to revert back to his childhood, or younger times when he had more fun. i saw this movie on the other night, i've seen it before but anytime i see it on i get excited, but i can't remember if i ever seen the end i always seem to find it on late at night watch like 90 minutes then get too tired, fall asleep. i can't recall if i saw the ending. i love this movie though, the thought of trying to be off the radar, and basically not known to a lot of people seems kinda cool and fun since it seems really hard to do at these times.