Mask **** (1985, Cher, Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott) – Classic Movie Review 2310

Director Peter Bogdanovich’s 1985 movie tells the extraordinarily uplifting real-life story about teenaged lad Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz), horribly defaced from a bone disease with a massive facial skull deformity, and his relationship with his highly emotional, volatile hippy biker gang mother Rusty (Cher).

She nurtures feelings of self-worth and well-being in the 16-year-old boy, who attempts to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances. He tries to coax his unconventional mother off drugs, while brushing off hurtful school jokes and living every day to the full in the knowledge that it might be his last.

Outstanding, heartwarming performances from the stars interpret a simple, affecting script from début writer Anna Hamilton Phelan. But the main triumph is that of director Bogdanovich, in his best work since his triumphs of the early Seventies, like The Last Picture Show and Paper Moon.

There was one Oscar – for Best Makeup by Michael Westmore and Zoltan Elek.

Also in the cast are a very young-looking Laura Dern, Estelle Getty, Richard Dysart, Harry Carey Jnr, Andrew Robinson, Lawrence Monoson and Nick Cassavetes.

The admired Director’s Cut print runs around seven minutes longer than the 120-minute original and includes a scene where Rocky and Rusty sing around a bonfire as well as the funeral of cyclist Red with his motorbike buried beside him. It also replaces the Bob Seger songs with those of Bruce Springsteen.

Inspired by her work in Mask, Cher became National Chairperson and Honorary Spokesperson of the Children’s Craniofacial Association.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2310

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