Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I hosted a screening of this at the Egyptian a month or so back, and I’ve been a big fan since seeing the film for the first time over a year ago. I’m surprised by Warner Bros. deciding to open this as a limited release. They simply don’t seem to know how to sell it. Not everyone loved the film when I showed it, but those who did love it... REALLY loved it... sort of like with last year’s DONNIE DARKO.
Here’s PEACEMAKER with his take on things:
Howdy fellas! I've been perusing your reviews and tidbits for years now and always wished I could write one myself. I just never felt like I had anything juicy of my own to contribute... until now. First things first. Becuase my own career could lie in jeopardy over things like this, and I want a cool nickname, let's call me... um... PEACEMAKER. (not to be confused with Pacemaker, my undying nemesis)
So, the screening for "The Salton Sea" started at 12:30 yesterday (friday april 19) in the THX theatre at the Los Angeles Film School. The director D.J. Caruso and actor Doug Hutchison (remember Percy from "the Green Mile") were there for comment and questions afterward.
The lights dimmed. Silence fell. The screen began to flicker and for the next hour and forty minutes I was blown away. When it was over all that I wanted was for them to rewind the film and let us watch it again. I haven't felt like that since I saw "Memento" for the first time.
I'll try to give out as much info as possible without too many spoilers. Val Kilmer (who in my opinion delivers the third greatest performance of his lifetime; first in "the Doors", second in "Tombstone") is Danny Parker, a tormented shadow lost in the hardcore world of meth, speed and its tweakers in downtown L.A.. They stay up for days, losing track of time and reality. For Danny it's a good place to lose the past. He's tattooed from fingertip to fingertip and it all tells a story that you're dying to know and he tells only a bit at a time. He's dirty on the cops, and the dealers, and they both want him out. He just wants redemption.
D'onofrio plays one of his coolest parts yet, as a tweaking dealer that snorted so much that he had to have his nose amputated and now wears a pathetic plastic replica. You first meet him re-enacting the kennedy assasination with pidgeons and a remote control car and from that point on he just gets better and better.
You know what... I hate to do this, but I really can't tell you anymore about the story, I wish that I could, but you just have to see this movie. But just know it's not all about drugs. That's the initial backdrop, but not the subject. It is hysterically funny, intriguing and engrossing. There is so much style to this movie, and it's all... well... cool. I would have to say that it's over-all style is that of a modern film-noir. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, and excited to be there.
Both the director, D.J. (this is his first feature film, and one heck of a first it is) and Doug (plays a cop) said that people came out of the woodwork to be in this movie (even R. Lee Emry makes a small appearance). Doug described it as being one of those few scripts that just shoots off the page and makes people wet their pants trying to get a part, no matter how small. It was creative, new, fresh and a great noir throwback all at the same time.
You have to see this movie. HAVE TO. The only thing that sucks is that Warner brother's is afraid that they can't advertise it properly and won't draw a good audience. I can see why, since the preview sucks the big one in comparison to what this movie really is. It's just a hard movie to explain without telling the whole story. It opens in L.A. and San franscisco next weekend. If it does well it will go national. If people in those cities have any idea at all, they need to go. Support Jason X later, see this movie now. It sure would be a shame to miss the theatre experience on this one. That, and D.J. Caruso (who has directed TV for years) needs the support. He is, without a doubt, an amazing filmmaker and needs this to do well.
Well, that's what I've got for you, hopefully I can do this again.
Dreaming in celluloid,
PEACEMAKER
Well-said, man. Thanks for the review.
"Moriarty" out.
