With Demi Moore getting a new dose of fame, it’s time for her role in one of Disney’s more underappreciated movies to get some respect!
If there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s a comeback story. 2022 was a notable example as Brendan Fraser, the one-time box office star of the late 1990s, had been quiet for a long time due to personal issues. Fraser made a big splash with his transformative role in the drama The Whale.
That same year featured the remarkable tale of Ke Huy Quan, a former child star of the 1980s who dropped out of the business because he couldn’t find good roles. He landed one in the wild action drama Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
Thus, on Oscar Night 2023, Fraser and Quan were sharing photos with their respective Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards. They highlighted how Hollywood simply adores seeing a past star make a bold return.
Such a case is Demi Moore. Breaking out as part of the “Brat Pack” of 1980s teen stars, Moore hit her height of fame in the early 1990s with a string of hits. Ghost, Indecent Proposal, A Few Good Men, and Disclosure all showcased Moore’s wonderful aura with her sultry voice and looks, making her a standout.
Moore also got attention for her now-famous Vanity Fair cover posing nude and pregnant and her relationship with Bruce Willis. It added to her standing as an A-lister in Hollywood.
However, the 2000s saw Moore’s star fade with a string of flops and taking time away from the business. She had roles on TV shows like Empire and Landman but seemed past her prime as a star.
Now, Moore is erupting back to the limelight thanks to her turn in the horror movie The Substance. Her performance as an aging actor who goes to extremes to become young again has already won Moore a Golden Globe and nominations for the BAFTA, Critic’s Choice, SAG and her first Oscar nomination.
The buzz that she may be landing her first Oscar has led to some of Moore’s past movies being rewatched and reconsidered. And that includes her big Disney entry, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The Hunchback is surprisingly dark
Looking back, it’s amazing The Hunchback of Notre Dame ever got made. At the height of the Disney Renaissance, here came an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s infamously dark novel about a deformed figure hanging out with singing gargoyles.
Purists of the novel chafed from the start, reviews were a bit mixed and while it was a box office hit ($325 million worldwide) it seems to have fallen by the wayside compared to the other animated films of its time.
The movie is known for its dark tones and religious overthemes. That includes the twisted Frollo, one of the darker villains ever for how real and human he is. His attacks on the Romani people of Paris, who he sees as “impure,” are more relevant today, and the imagery is striking.
It still astounds how 1996 Disney thought the “Hellfire” musical number was something meant for kids. Yet it all comes together with gorgeous animation and is backed by a top cast that includes Moore as Esmeralda, the “forgotten” Disney princess.
Moore’s Esmeralda is great
Hunchback came at a turning point for Moore’s career. When she was cast, she was at the height of her fame, and having her in a Disney movie was a big deal. Her bankability as a Hollywood star could only add to the movie’s appeal.
However, 1996 was when Moore’s star power in Hollywood started fading. It began with 1995’s infamous horrific The Scarlet Letter, one of the worst novel adaptations of all time, a box office bomb ravaged by the critics.
At the same time as Hunchback, Moore starred in Striptease, where she was famously paid a then-record $12 million. The result was another critically ravaged flop. After that, Moore’s biggest leading role would be 1997’s G.I. Jane, in which she shaved her head for the part but underperformed.
Thus, Hunchback is notable for when Moore was about to enter a shallow period in her career. Yet she still did her best for Esmeralda, the dancer who befriends Quasimodo while also intrigued by soldier Phoebus (Kevin Kline).
Casting Moore as a Romani character was unusual, although such considerations weren’t taken into account in the mid-1990s. It’s ironic that the character’s design appears to be based on Halle Berry, who wasn’t a famous name at the time but went on to a much bigger career. Her as Esmeralda would have been an interesting casting.
Moore does her best, as she seems a bit flat at times. Her declaration of freedom to Frollo seems off with Moore trying a bit too hard. She’s much better with her banter with Quasimodo and Phoebus, allowing Moore’s natural charms to come through.
She gives the character some warmth as she teaches both men to overcome their differences and misconceptions of her people. Moore gets better as the movie goes on, especially standing up to Frollo at the end. True, Moore doesn’t sing the big “God Help the Outcasts” song (that’s Heidi Mollenhauer), but the rest of the performance shows the fire and spirit of Esmeralda that make her a standout among other Disney heroines.
Is she a princess or not?
This leads to a debate if Esmeralda fits the Disney “princess” label. Disney themselves don’t seem to count her as one, which makes sense a bit as she’s not royalty nor married into one. Note the end of the movie, she’s still going around barefoot as a showcase she’s not changing that much.
That’s what wins folks over to the character. She’s tough, she’s smart and in many ways a template for female characters who followed her. You can see aspects of Mulan, Jane and others up to Elsa and Anna. Esmeralda is a woman fighting by her own means and Moore is a good choice to bring that to life.
Moore’s performance makes it work better than it could have. Another actress may have been just as good, yet somehow, Moore’s unique voice adds to how distinctive Esmeralda is. The whole point of the character is seeming otherworldly to tempt men yet down to Earth helping her people.
Moore has always specialized in choosing characters who are more than just looks. Yes, she’s a beautiful woman, but her best parts, like A Few Good Men or G.I. Jane, are about fighting for respect to show how tough and smart they truly are. That makes her a perfect fit for Esmeralda and why this character should be a bigger deal for Disney fans.
As her career seems ready to reignite and perhaps even lead her to an Oscar, Moore is finally getting the respect her Hollywood peers and critics alike have ignored for so long. Hopefully, this leads to a better assessment of her past roles and that includes Hunchback as Moore made Esmeralda one of the more underrated Disney heroines and one who should be held in better standing.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame streaming on Disney+.