Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller
Length: 1h 36m 37s
Director: D.J. Caruso
Tagline: If You're Looking For The Truth, You've Come To The Wrong Place.
Plot outline: After the murder of his beloved wife, Danny Parker (Val Kilmer) is set adrift in a world where nothing is as it seems. On his journey he befriends slacker Jimmy the Fin (Peter Sarsgaard) and becomes involved in rescuing his neighbor Colette (Debra Kara Unger) from her own demons. Danny is antagonized by undercover narcotics agents (Anthony Lapaglia and Doug Hutchison) and sadistic dealer Pooh Bear (Vincent D'Onfronio). Summary written by Anonymous
Comment: SALTON SEA proves again that Val Kilmer is a actor and not what he has been seen as the last couple of years, a star. Ever since the release of the dreadful BATMAN FOREVER, Kilmer was a major spotlight, he was the major object of desire from most women and a box office draw. Then after such pretty bad movies (ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU and RED PLANET) Kilmer was fading out of the limelight. With SALTON SEA, Kilmer proves to the viewer that this was the same man who we enjoyed as Doc Holiday in TOMBSTONE, Jim Morrison in THE DOORS, and Chris Knight in REAL GENIUS. SALTON SEA has Kilmer as Danny Parker, a most of the time drugged out loser living in the drug culture on Los Angeles. He hangs out with Kujo (Adam Goldberg) and his reliable friend Jimmy the Fin (Peter Sarsgaard). Danny is pushed around by two narcotics officers, Morgan (Doug Hutchison) and Garcetti (Anthony La Paglia), and has his life in danger with the grotesque Pooh Bear (Vincent D' Onofrio) who wears a plastic nose after losing his nose from doing too much "smack." Danny sees a way of redpemtion with his female neighbor Colette (Deborah Unger) who is abused by her boyfriend Quincey (Luis Guzman). Danny also has a plan that deals with a herion buyer named Bubba (B.D. Wong) that revolves around the death of Danny's wife who was killed at the Salton Sea about a hundred miles east of Los Angeles. SALTON SEA is more of a character study than a actual plot. The film is a study of Danny, the decisions he makes in life to which is the right path to take which would either help or save his life. It's also a darkly humorous look into the life of those who do herion and those who sell it. The images of Pooh Bear are pretty haunting that the next time you hear "Pooh" you will be thinking about the nose-less smack dealer before you think about the cute cuddly Disney character. But like I said, it's the acting is what makes this movie strong, and it's among the best acting that I have seen all year. This is Kilmer's best role that I have seen since HEAT (although he didn't do much in that film). But Kilmer is just as enjoyable in this as he was Doc in TOMBSTONE. Vincent D' Onofrio seems to have a fun time playing the Pooh Bear who has vicious ways of punishing those who steal money from him that include a badger. While the rest of the cast, including Doug Hutchison and Peter Sarsgarrd are deliver good performances. The other element that helps SALTON SEA stand out is the directing style of D.J. Caruso. It's the most darkest and visually creative film about drugs that I have seen since TRAINSPOTTING. Some of the visuals from this film stand out, with the beginning of Kilmer sitting in a room on fire playing the trumpet, to the lay out staged of the renactment of the Kennedy Assassnation using pigeons as the Kennedy's and governor of Texas. This isn't a film that will be enjoyed in most cities (note that I am writing this from L.A. when I live in Phoenix, it's only showing in L.A. right now). But it's a movie that will entertain you and hopefully give you a second thought before you see that drug addict sitting in the corner of the coffee shop. A thought on how do you think that person got in that shape in the first place. And that is a rare element coming from a major Hollywood studio. Great show! ***** (out of five)
IMDB Rating: 7.3
Country: USA
Language:
Subtitels: No ()
DVDs: 1
IMDB address
| Actors: | ||
| Val Kilmer | as | Danny Parker/Tom Van Allen |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | as | Pooh-Bear |
| Adam Goldberg | as | Kujo |
| Luis Guzmán | as | Quincy |