Few movies deal with the grieving process in the fashion that Moonlight Mile does. Writer/director Brad Silberling (City of Angels) is speaking from the heart, and it's even been suggested that much of this film is based on the director's real life struggle, coping with the death of fiancee Rebecca Schaeffer (from the television show My Sister Sam) back in the 80's.

In Moonlight Mile, the audience isn't subjected to an overdrawn death sequence. No, this film deals with the intense aftermath, in which the parents of the victim try to deal with the untimely tragedy while developing a strong bond with their now deceased daughter's shaken fiancee. What unfolds, is a most unexpected journey of self discovery that isn't afraid to be humorous, even in such a dark situation.

Dustin Hoffman turns in one of his best performances in quite sometime as Ben Floss, a distraught father who tries mighty hard to push forth with his busy life. Susan Sarandon follows her underdeveloped turn in The Banger Sisters with a return to form as JoJo Floss. Rather than bottling emotions up, her therapy begins with simply venting her frustration towards those around her. Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko) soars as Joe Nast, the young fiancee. This is a quiet, restrained performance that, while slightly eccentric, really rings true. Watch for bit performances by Holly Hunter and Dabney Coleman as well. The key to the success of Moonlight Mile lies in the subtlety of the acting.

It's obvious that Silberling is using this project as a form of therapy. I'd be really interested in knowing how much of this story is autobiographical. The film offers up plot developments I didn't see coming, most notably a secret kept by Gyllenhall. Moonlight Mile is also extremely sensitive in ways I wasn't prepared for. There is a sequence in which the man accused of killing Hoffman and Sarandon's daughter, is handled in a most unexpected way. Unfortunately, Silberling can't help but throw in a helping of the heavy handed, including a court room revelation scene that offsets the film's realism. An unexpected relationship also blossoms, and while the emotional connection feels real, this story line felt a tad rushed to me. Still, sincerity conquers all in Moonlight Mile.

With it's skilled performances, passionate direction, and an honest approach to how most people deal with the death of a loved one, Brad Silberling and his crew have fashioned a poetic drama in Moonlight Mile. pic) imdb 6 (dude on bed with beer)