CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Leofwine_draca THE SALTON SEA is another drug-fuelled drama that explores the negative and devastating effects that drugs have on users, dealers, and the local community. I'm not really a fun of these types of drug-binge movies a la FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS so I wasn't really expecting much from this movie.I didn't get it. Unfortunately, THE SALTON SEA is more about drug use than it is about the law enforcement of the situation, even though there are a couple of DEA officers in it. Instead what we get is a permanently-stoned Val Kilmer wandering his way through a world of violence, degradation, and humiliation, interacting with various unpleasant characters.The characters are the best thing in this production. Vincent D'Onofrio's drug pusher is memorable thanks to his appearance alone. Doug Hutchison (THE GREEN MILE) is ever-creepy in support, even though he's playing one of the 'good' guys. There are cameos for R. Lee Ermey, Meat Loaf, and BD Wong. But the film lacks the right kind of substance, and feels plot less and meandering all the way through. I didn't care for it at all.

NateWatchesCoolMovies D.J. Caruso's The Salton Sea is like two great films for the price of one. On one hand you have elements of a zany, off the wall meth addiction screwball comedy (not unlike Jonas Ackerlund's Spun, which I will be reviewing as well). Those comedic elements are wrapped in a very tragic, violent and vengeful film noir, with a brooding, paced melancholy that chills the heart. Val Kilmer stars as Danny Parker, a scumbag tweaker who snitches out fellow addicts to two corrupt narcs (Doug Hutchison and Anthony Lapaglia, equal parts hilarious and scary). But he's also Tom Van Allen, a stoic trumpet player who has been driven to this life of unending nocturnal madness through bloody and unfortunate circumstance. I won't say any more than that or I'll spoil the plot. Kilmer plays both sides of the coin willingly, and in a way is perfect for both aspects of this character, as he has always had a flair for both mournful gravitas (The Saint, Batman) and hyperactive lunacy (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Willow). Vincent D'Onofrio almost steals the film away from him though, playing a deranged crank dealer named Pooh Bear, who I quote "snorted so much gack they had to chop his nose off". He is a plastic nosed monster with a bleached blonde cut and a chilling nasally whine that produces nightmares. Vancouver born Deborah Kara Unger gives a restrained performance as Danny's down on her luck neighbour. The supporting cast rocks it, with appearances from Meat Loaf, Luis Guzman, R. Lee Ermey, Peter Saarsgard, Adam Goldberg, Glenn Plummer and Danny Trejo. I've heard people whine about this film being style over substance. Well, when you have a style this distinct, a score this good, a color palette this gorgeous, so what if the visual and auditory aesthetic takes over a bit? It still has enough exposition and character motivation to surge forward with purpose. A very underrated, delightfully off kilter late 90's noir entry well worth watching.

mlafuenteny Offbeat film noir deals with the subjects of vengeance and identity. Excellent soundtrack and really funny one-liners by its supporting cast, and by the lead. If you get a chance, watch the extras on the DVD release. This movie is very, very west coast; and I like that. I also liked how messed up in the head all the characters are!! Even the characters who are supposed to be together people seem to have identity problems. I also enjoyed the tattoos, wardrobe, haircuts, and general funkiness of everything. In addition, I think this film is very original and I love its cinematic texture. It presents itself to you as this dark fantasy-world.

Samiam3 The drug world is a crazy one: a world of strait and dirty, bullets and blood shed, secrecy and surveillance, and sometimes life or death. If you were one of the few people to follow David Simon's the Wire on Cable TV, you'll get the idea completely. The Saltan Sea, though occasionally flirting close too close to the line of staged plotting, feels surprisingly convincing, and down to earth. Though I wouldn't call it a super smart motion picture, it does have a brain, with brain cells that fire off signals to progress the story in a manner that is engaging.Tom Van Allen and his lovely wife were on holiday by the Salton Sea, when one night a couple of guys in masks shot her dead in the hotel lobby (along with the clerk). since then Tom, has taken up a new identity as a street punk. Having gotten himself arrested (deliberately) he has been doing buy and bust for the cops. Each bust gets progressively bigger, and his plan is ultimately to bust the one who killed his wife, something bigger and more ironic than the audience could anticipate.First shots can be very important sometimes (I'm sure many of you have a favourite example). The Salton Sea opens on a man sitting on the floor of a room which is burning all around him, while he casually plays the trumpet. Next, we hear his narrative voice, "Who am I.......I'll let you decide" before the story flashes back quite a ways. If this is not enough to get you into the story (even the slightest bit), I dunno what is.The Salton Sea does its job well. It is still shy of greatness, but I'd say it is worth a peak.