Alabama Moon

source: Alabama Moon

Set in Alabama but filmed in and around Covington and Mandeville, Louisiana, just north of Lake Pontchartrain. Also some in Fair Hope, Alabama. I saw it via Netflix streaming movies. Jimmy Bennett is the title character, Moon Blake. As the movie opens we see him pushing a wheelbarrow with a body in it, and digging a grave to bury his dad, 'Pap', who had just died. Then a short flashback scene shows how his dad was distrusting of everyone, particularly "the government" and taught Moon to never take anything from anyone, that way you'll never owe anything to anyone. They lived off the land, with a small cave on public land as their home. But one day while fishing Pap fell and broke his leg badly, with a broken bone protruding. His only option was to die soon from the infection. So the movie is really about Moon and what will become of his life now that he, maybe 11 years old, is now on his own. His dad had told him to go somewhere else to live his life in isolation, maybe Montana or Wyoming, or better yet, Alaska where a man could still get homestead land. So that becomes Moon's plan, Alaska once it warmed up. Moon was very resourceful, but had no idea what a journey to Alaska would entail. Out of the forest Moon's first encounter is with John Goodman as Mr. Wellington who does what any responsible adult would do, call the authorities. Moon ends up in a home for boys, surrounded with razor wire like a prison, but he is determined to figure out an escape. And he does. The mean guy in all this is Clint Howard as Constable Sanders who picks up Moon and sees that he gets to the home for boys. After Moon escapes there is an other scene where Moon outwits Sanders and the tracking bloodhound, eventually making the dog his pet. Not a great movie but young Jimmy Bennet carries it well. It ends with a good dose of family values. SPOILERS: As Moon meets other kids, including the warden's cute daughter, and some of the adults, he begins to have doubts of his dad's advice, to remain alone, hiding out, avoiding social contact. Mr Wellington turns out to be a lawyer and helps Moon with his issues. And in the end a family in Mobile, his dad's kin with two kids already, come to get Moon and take him in as part of their family. Moon hugs each, he has made the transformation and now accepts family and friends as a desirable state of life.

As a member of PRIME VIDEO this wonderful "hidden sleeper" was worth watching albeit with a few flaws which does not detract from the premise of the movie which has a 6.5 rating which I agree with. The writing & the acting, for the most part were quite good, except for Clint Howard(Ron's Brother) in the role of the Sheriff. Although the acting of the three main boys was good, I would be remiss if I did not single out the lead(Moon) played to perfection by Jimmy Bennett, now 23. His performance was outstanding and his ability to "carry" a movie was nothing short of perfection as he has gone on to a very successful TV/movie career since "Alabama Moon". Uriah Shelton(also a singer in his own right) in the role of KIT was very moving & sadly his death(on going medical issues) for which he was taking pills in the boy's home was very devastating for Moon ,who became his best friend while on the run in the wilderness, albeit Moon got him to a hospital in the end. The performance of Gabriel Basso(HAL) as the initial antagonist at the home was enjoyable. This movie is a MUST SEE.

This film was exactly the type of film I guessed it would be from the trailer , a very simple family drama and there is nothing wrong with that , in fact I do like that sort of films for time to time. The story is pretty straightforward a kid living alone with his environmentalist father has to learn to go back to civilization once his dad dies of an infection of the leg. The kid goes into a jail for children were he makes his very first friends , bust out with them , fight the creepy sergeant who's always after him and learn to let go of the burden his late father had inflected upon him. All in all this film is pretty much 50 per cent drama and 50 per cent kids film, seriously , if it would have had the Disney logo attached to it , it would have been a perfect fit for the studio.The film is absolutely harmless.It shy away from how serious this peculiar subject could have been to favor more of a kids adventure format. There are scenes that are quite far fetched and the villain of the piece (Played by Ron Howard's brother) feels like he came out straight from a cartoon. At no time during that film I felt that something bad would happen to young Alabama and I just sat and enjoyed watching his journey unfold. It's not Oscar worthy by any stretch of the imagination, it's just a cute little film that you would have fun watching on a rainy day with your kids (whom I believe would love it). There are nice little touches like John Goodman (Always great to see him),the character of Kitt who's quite endearing and the young Jimmy Bennett who does a decent job as Alabama even if it's not as strong of a performance as the one he has given in "Trucker" ( By the way if you are really looking for a real serious drama who pulls no punches I would recommend this film instead). All I can say is I liked it , I don't think anyone who will watch this film will dislike it because there is nothing to dislike. The only problem I have with the film is the last 5 minutes is a bit much on the corny side and feels like it was taken from an episode of "The Waltons" but at the same time it fits the rest of the film. My Verdict : Kid friendly Drama that entertain without offering anything major to think about for adult viewers.Your kids (especially boys , will probably love it for it's adventure element) 6 out of 10.