Monstrous is an iconic 1987 romantic comedy, one of Cher’s best movies that earned her an Academy Award for her role as Loretta Castorini, opposite Nicolas Cage’s Ronny Cammareri. From humorously dramatic confessions to Cher’s iconic “Knock it out”There are many famous scenes that cemented Monstrous In the rom-com hall of fame. The film follows Loretta unknowingly falling for Ronnie, the younger brother of the man she is supposed to marry, after her first husband’s death.
Monstrous Offers an intricate portrait of the Italian-American experience in New York City and is widely regarded as one of Cage’s most underrated film roles. In the decade since the theatrical release and successful awards campaign of monster truck, The film continues to be referenced across pop culture, included in the latter Only murders in this building Episode also featuring the A few good people Monologue. The film’s unique pacing makes it an incredibly rare gem among rom-coms, one that has yet to be replicated in the contemporary film world. ;
10
“I don’t believe in curses.”
Said by Loretta Castorini
When Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) flies to Sicily to see his dying mother just after he proposes to Loretta, Loretta sees him off at the airport, where she watches the plane take off. This image could be interpreted as the setup for a more conventional rom-com scenario, if it weren’t for a strange interaction that establishes Monstrouss particular note. An elderly woman tells you:
“I put a curse on that plane. My sister is on that plane. I put a curse on that plane that it will explode, burn in fire and fall into the sea. Fifty years ago she stole a man from me .”!” Today she told me that she never loved him, that she took him to be strong on me. Now she is going back to Sicily. Ritora in Sicilia! I cursed her that the green Atlantic water should swallow her!”
Loretta responds by dryly saying: “I don’t believe in curses.” The older woman smiles and says: – Me neither. The woman credited as Old Crone never reappears Monstrous, But the dark delivery of the scene is what makes it a hit among generations of viewers.
9
“I lost my hand! I lost my bride! Johnny has his hand! Johnny has his bride!”
Said by Ronnie Cammaeri
While Johnny is in Sicily, he asks Loretta to start preparing for their wedding by convincing his estranged younger brother Ronnie to come. Ronnie runs a bakery, where he lost his hand in an accident with the bread maker. The split between the brothers is due to Ronnie blaming Johnny for distracting him and causing the accident, which then causes his fiance to leave him for another man.
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The dramatic delivery of Ronnie’s monologue about his accident adds a layer of lore to Monstrouss main story, While also coming across as ridiculously hilarious, as Johnny is clearly not to blame. Despite the clear narrative that the loss of Ronnie’s hand was an accident, many people, including his co-worker Chrissy (Nada Despotovich), buy into his dramatization of the brotherly feud. Chrissy even refers to him as “The Most Tortured Man” She knew everything.
8
“Old man, you give the dogs another piece of my food and I will kick you until you are dead!”
Said by Rose Castorini
The Castorini family household in Brooklyn is composed of Rose (Olympia Dukakis) and Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia), Grandpa Castorini (Feodor Chaliapin Jr.), and the widow Loretta, Who works as an accountant. The family dinner scenes throughout the movie provide further context for Loretta’s character, who has her mother Rose’s sharp edge and a hint of her father’s superstition.
In this scene, while the family discusses their current state of affairs, Grandpa Castorini continues to sneak pieces of his dinner to his many dogs. After she spends hours cooking the meal, Rose suddenly cuts off the conversation by threatening to “Kick him till he’s dead” If he keeps feeding the dogs. The table then returns to an unfamiliar silence. This sardonic moment is the first of many to come in Rose’s dry humor, which her daughter Loretta also inherited.
7
“I just want you to know no matter what you do, you’re going to die, just like everyone else.”
Said by Rose Castorini
When Rose discovers her husband is having an affair, she asks Johnny why men chase women. He delves into the biblical story of Adam and Eve, believing that men chase women to get their ribs back, as Eve was created from Adam’s ribs. When Cosmo comes home mysteriously proclaiming, “I don’t know where I’m going and I don’t know where I’ve been.” Rose reminds her husband that no matter what he does, he’s still going to “Die like everyone else. “
Cosmo responds with a simple “Thank you, Rose,” To which she replies “You are welcome.” This strange turn of conversation contrasts in a shockingly strange way with the discussion Rose is just having with Johnny. It also subconsciously lets the viewers know that Rose knows about the affair, and is plotting exactly how to end it. This scene is another example of Dukakis’ nuanced acting prowess Monstrous.
6
“Knock out of him!”
Said by Loretta Castorini
When Loretta sleeps with Ronnie in a moment of passion, she realizes the element she is missing in her relationship with Johnny But still feels that the sensible thing to do is marry him anyway. Her first marriage ended with her husband being hit by a bus and dying, a tragedy widely considered to be a result of bad luck after Loretta married him in City Hall instead of in a church. These ideas about good behavior and bad luck permeate the film.
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When she wakes up and panics about her actions of betrayal against Johnny, shocked by her circumstances, Ronnie tells her he loves her. Instead of reciprocating, Loretta slaps Ronnie twice, telling him to “Get out of it.” The absurdist delivery and humorous mischief make this scene a pivotal moment in the film, inspiring Loretta to take charge of her life and her desires for her future.
5
“It’s Cosmo’s moon!”
Said by Raymond Cappomaggi
Family friend Raymond Cappomaggi (Louis Guss) recalls Cosmo proposing to Rose under the light of a massive full moon. As a boy, he believed that Cosmo made the moon just to show his love for Rose. In an appropriate moment of dramatic irony, a massive full moon appears as Loretta finds herself falling for Ronnie in Johnny’s absence, and more family drama begins to unfold.
After Loretta sleeps with Ronnie, she takes note of the moon, and a montage follows of all the film’s characters reacting to the sight of the moon – including Rose herself, looking wistfully out the window at the memory of her great romance. Raymond proclaimed “Look, it’s Cosmo’s moon.” In a sleepy tone, which puts together the chaos that is taking place outside his door among his longtime friends. The moon becomes a central source of the plot that is to come.
4
“Don’t watch where you eat”
Said by Rose Castorini
One of the many important meeting places in the film is the Grand Ticino Restaurant, where Johnny originally proposed to Loretta. While Loretta and Ronnie are at the Metropolitan Opera (where they run in Cosmo and His Mistress), Rose goes to the neighborhood restaurant to grab dinner alone. She witnesses Perry, a professor at New York University, after being dramatically dumped, she invites him to eat with her and learn his story.
It is then revealed that Perry always dates his college students, and their age gaps typically end in heartbreak and disaster. When he wonders why these toxic habits continue to produce the same negative results, Loretta offers him some words of wisdom from her mother: “Don’t watch where you eat.” Since Perry continues to mix work and pleasure, he never finds the right relationship, and Rose’s brutal honesty puts him in his place. How much of the dialogue in MonstrousThe fast-paced pacing and sharp delivery support its comic effect.
3
“Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn’t know this either, but love doesn’t make things nice – it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess.”
Said by Ronnie Cammaeri
Every good rom-com must have a memorable confession of love. As Loretta and Ronnie walk home from the Metropolitan Opera, Loretta complains about her complicated problem. She fears betraying Johnny and breaking things off with him because of his estranged brother. She initially promises to go to the opera with Ronnie as their last meeting, but naturally, he tries to sway her otherwise. Rani feels that she is settling for his brother, and wants to change that.
This scene is one of Cage’s most emotionally moving moments in Monstrous And one that makes it a deeply relatable tale across generational lines. Love is not always something that comes quietly, and the film’s Wildly humorous take on relationships is perfectly encapsulated in these (almost) parting words. Of course, this speech is what finally convinces Loretta to continue her relationship with Ronnie.
2
“You… you have a love bite on your neck. He’s coming back this morning, what’s the matter with you? Your life is going down the toilet!”
Said by Rose Castorini
Before Loretta can explain her dilemma with Ronnie, Rose reveals that Johnny arrived early from Sicily in search of Loretta, as his mother made a miraculous recovery. However, Rose figures out the situation for herself when she notices a “love bite” On Loretta’s neck. The film’s mesmerizing conclusion is near, and the moment reminds viewers that despite Loretta’s determination, even she manages to find herself in a romantic kerfuffle.
The ridiculous delivery of “Your life is going down the toilet” Reinforce the irony of the scene as a whole. While everything is falling apart, Loretta feels the most herself she has felt since her husband’s death, And she just might have met the true love of her life. She now feels comfortable spreading herself to new experiences, from opera performances to a fresh haircut. This scene perfectly sets up Ronnie’s dramatic final act.
1
“Ma, I love him terribly.”
Said by Loretta Castorini
Johnny bursts in, breaking off his engagement to Loretta, believing it to be more bad luck after his mother only recovers after learning of his engagement. Ronnie then takes the opportunity to propose to Loretta instead, without opposition from Johnny, How his beliefs keep him from pushing the issue. This allows the movie’s conflict to easily resolve itself. Loretta accepts, and Rose asks her if she loves him. Loretta says, “Ma, I love him terribly,” To which Rose says – This is too bad.
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This scene is a callback to an earlier moment in the film, when Rose asks Loretta if she loved Johnny, to which she replies no. Rose then says: calso, When you love them, they drive you crazy because they know they can.” It underscores the film’s biggest theme, of the endless complications that come from being in love. As viewers can see, Ronnie really drove Loretta crazy throughout the film’s twists and turns, but Monstrous It turns out that she loves him, despite this.