The Salton Sea Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
If You're Looking For The Truth, You've Come To The Wrong Place.
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).
| Val Kilmer | Danny Parker/Tom Van Allen |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | Pooh-Bear |
| Adam Goldberg | Kujo |
| Luis Guzmán | Quincy |
| Doug Hutchison | Gus Morgan |
| Anthony LaPaglia | Al Garcetti |
| Glenn Plummer | Bobby |
| Peter Sarsgaard | Jimmy the Finn |
| Deborah Kara Unger | Colette |
| Chandra West | Liz |
| R. Lee Ermey | Verne Plummer |
| Shalom Harlow | Nancy |
| Shirley Knight | Nancy Plummer |
| Meat Loaf | Bo |
| D.J. Caruso |
7.10 out of 10 (10784 votes)
Visitor Reviews
MORE TRUTH THAN THE TAGLINE
posted on 10 Aug 2009as one who once plumbed the depths of the meth world i can tell you this was a job well done by all.good acting by all concerned.i don't think the manic world of tweakers can be overstated.it,too,is by turns hilarious or dark & nasty.as far as reality goes,there was more snorting than is actually done in real life.most smoke or inject,but this may have been a personal preference by the director or something to do with the rating board. having blurted all that out,i have to say i really enjoyed this movie & recommend it to anyone wanting something a little offbeat.
Great movie, it's just that simple...
posted on 19 Jul 2009This movie was great, this time I'm actually glad I took the Blockbuster guy's advice and rented it. It's not like LOTR or a Rocky movie where you come out feeling like you're on top of the world, but you will feel spun like by a great rollercoaster. I wouldn't say it starts off slow, but it definitely eases you into things, then move on to the drug fests and the story starts to take shape, but without really revealing itself all at once.
As you watch more, you get that much more involved and gripped. I found myself really captured by the movie to the point of having anxiety myself in some of the Poo bear scenes. So towards the end I was strapped to my chair waiting to see what was going to happen, I did care about Kilmer's character, and I loved it how the movie keeps you guessing and on your seat till the end. Being such a dark movie though, it wouldn't have been so memorable for me if the ending had been different.Kilmer's performance was good and he held his own, but Vincent D'Onofrio was brilliant in his role of Poo bear. I also liked the scene with Bobby `hobby' as it was definitely memorable.I loved this movie, but as other reviews have said, if you are faint of heart then this movie is not for you. It is dark, druggy, very pawn scum of life kind of thing, and you watch it with your guts in a knot for some of the movie, but it's worth the knot I tell you! Did I mention that I liked the ending too? Even though it was a dark movie overall, I left with the sensation of `Damn that was a good movie…'
An unlikely "chick flick" for the over 45 set.
posted on 17 Jul 2009Not since Drugstore Cowboy have I walked away from a film wondering just how lucky I was to not be one of those people. I knew a few of them in "the day", but through whatever grace there is escaped their fate and became what most of us on the fringes in the late 60's became, or what we always were, middle class over achievers. For a while though it could have been me or you at the non stop meth party.Confused plot, talk to a speed freak some day, you will get the picture. Dark, definitely and the story drags along at just the right pace.But what is it about this movie that finds females over 45 to be the demographic with the highest vote average? I believe that it is ultimately a great story of deliverance, of redemption, of betrayal and love. The one character that Val Kilmer's Danny/Tom never compares himself to is Christ. Watch the movie, Danny/Tom missed one.
Offbeat and wholly enjoyable.
posted on 15 Jul 2009Dark humor is a growing trend in films since the explosion of Pulp Fiction. Some films get it right, like Fight Club. Some films fall flat, like Rules of Attraction. This film, The Salton Sea, gets it right. Whenever you're laughing and simultaneously thinking, "I should NOT be laughing at this", you know you're watching good dark humor.There are a few great moments like this, but added to that are some well crafted scenes, good acting, and a plot that is better than nearly every other drug-themed film I can think of. Films like Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream are excellent examinations of drug use and addiction, but in terms of real plot, things really are on the thin side. This film gives you the visual goodness that comes with exploring a drug culture, but takes the plot above this, leaving it in the background.The less you know about this movie before you see it, the better. But I will tell you this much: do not expect your typical "my life sucks so I destroy myself with drugs so pity me" kind of film. Early on in the movie, the main character says "I know what you're thinking, but don't give up on me yet." This is a good bit of advice, because you just might end up rooting for this guy by the end of the film.If you look for flaws, they are there, but well painted over with great visuals, great humor, and an marvelous shift from lazy introduction to mounting intensity. Occasionally the main character lets himself meander off the path a bit too far with pointless poetic ramblings, but it's only mildly annoying. There are a few scenes that don't hold up under scrutiny, but the problems don't get in the way of a great plot.I give it an 8 out of 10. Good stuff.
A real classic
posted on 13 Jul 2009Although having seen this seemingly obscure movie for the first time a few months ago, I truly feel like it makes my Top 15 list. Val Kilmer is convincing as a tweaker and has a crew around him that is priceless for their absolute comedic value (of course this is all with their brains on chemical overload). Also, Vincent D'onofrio is brilliant as Pooh Bear (especially when you consider his Law & Order CI character "Goran"). I like this film becuase of the complexity of the story, the graphic and sobering nature of Danny Parker's drug culture and the intermittent comedic value with Pooh Bear, Kujo, Finn and Creeper.A must see if you have the chance to find this hardly publicized film.
Stylish suspense drama.
posted on 28 May 2009This is a pretty good film about a man bent on revenge and the elaborate plan he undergoes to get the people who shot his wife. It's centered around the world of speed freaks, dealers, and a pair of crooked cops. Rather than go into any plot detail and spoil it for anyone, let me just say that there are many twists and turns along the way to redemption.Val Kilmer plays the central character who's out to get his wife's killers, and his acting, albeit a bit cold and impersonal, is right for the part.The supporting cast is very good also. Vincent D'Onofrio is especially good in the role of Pooh-Bear, the good ole boy cooker/dealer. He's an interesting combination of malevolence and humor, and I thought he stole the movie. Anthony Lapaglia plays one of the dirty cops, and Luis Guzmán plays a slimeball working for the Mexican mob. R. Lee Ermey also makes a brief appearance, although not with his "Full Metal Jacket" co-star, D'Onofrio.Takes itself a bit too seriously, but the movie is interesting to watch and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes suspense films with a dash of film noir in them.
This is your nose on drugs! Any questions?
posted on 12 May 2009"The Salton Sea" is a confused genrehybrid schizophrenic dark comedy/drama which attempts to tell a compelling tale of a man (Kilmer) who lost his identity through cataclysmic personal crisis and sunk in a morass of drug culture crank freaks morphing into a narc snitch and an underground deep cover IA mole so deep his only identity is himself which he's lost but it trying to regain through revenge. Is that clear?? If not, you'll get some idea of how muddled this story is. Nonetheless, the film manages some moodiness and is busy enough that people into "pulp fiction" stylistics might want to give this a try. (C)
Kilmer Needs More Work
posted on 10 May 2009I'm a Val Kilmer fan, so it pains me to see what he is doing today. You'd think that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang would revive two careers instead of one. Anyways, it took me this long to see this film and I don't know why. I should have seen it sooner because it is really well done. A tight script and actors who immerse themselves into the characters bring this film to life.The film has two different distinct feels to it. The first is, obviously the first half, which is more of a comedic drug induced trip style of a film. Think Weirdsville or Trainspotting. Then all of a sudden we are brought into this film noir underworld and the story takes a turn, it hooks you in for the ride.I won't go into details about the plot because any detail I give could give away the surprises. Upon first glance one character's actions and motivations may seem off, but when to think and pounder about them, what would you do in the same situation? Kilmer does a great job of dual roles here, right off the bat he tells you he doesn't really know who he is anymore, he is lost within two identities he has created for himself. Vincent D'Onofrio disappears into his overweight no nose of a "villain" and Peter Sarsgaard gives us an honest and some times compelling performance as a tweaker who just wants to gave friends. You really feel sorry for this characters.The film feels underrated to me, not many people know about it or even gave it a chance. You'll be surprised though, I sure was.
Bad cops and good man exchange lead with each other and local ruffians
posted on 02 May 2009Strange, darkly moody tale of revenge, murder, drugs, insanity, freaks, losers....and one all around good dude. I like films that come at me from left field which is why I liked this one; not to mention one of my fave actors being in it [Val]. It's one the viewer has to just keep watching to finally figure out. Oh, and there was plenty of gunplay for all you full auto freaks.
An interesting movie
posted on 10 Apr 2009I saw the opening scenes of the kamikazie pilot, 50's housewife, and 60s trucker in an in-service police training class last week on the effects of methamphetamine that piqued my interest enough to go rent the DVD. How did I miss this one at the Cineplex? I'll have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at this little gem of a doper flick. The acting was excellent and the story line spellbinding. It showcases the unrelenting violence and totally bizarre behavior of those people who use methamphetamine. The only thing I found totally unrealistic was the nice clean complexions of the tweaker methheads depicted in the movie. In reality, a person who's been on this poison for a year looks like a cast member of the "Night of the Living Dead" except they don't need any makeup. However, all considered, I recommend this movie to anyone who is contemplating using this crap or who knows someone who's on it.
A great change for Val Kilmer
posted on 29 Mar 2009Going into this movie I had no clue what to expect, other than a solid performance from Val Kilmer, which he delivered. What I found was a very different character (or rather 2) than I would expect him to portray. His Danny Parker was a seemingly unstable 'tweaker', riddled with drugs, reflective, having only one goal in mind and not taking s**t from anyone...yet in his flashbacks as Tom Van Allen he was more laid back, totally in love, selfless and sensitive. Throughout the film I couldn't help but see similarities to Guy Pearce's character in Memento, with the struggle to avenge his wife's death, questionable people they encounter along the way, and the fact that they both see things in a surreal light (one being quasi-amnesic, the other 'tweaked' out on 'gack'); but none of these made Salton Sea any less entertaining or enjoyable. Vincent D'Onofrio played a great character in cracked-out, paranoid drug dealer Pooh Bear. And as always, you can never help but smile at Luis Guzman's character, even when he's yelling at and beating up his girlfriend. Overall I found The Salton Sea to be very thought-provoking, with great dialogue, intelligent/slighty sarcastic narration that is reminiscent of that in Fight Club (dare I even make that comparison?), and a depth and heaviness to it that continuously draws you in as the movie progresses. Oh yeah...love the tatoos. 9/10 - rent it tonight.
The most Genius film of 2002!!!!
posted on 19 Mar 2009D.J. Caruso(director) and Tony Gayton(writer) have created thisyears masterpiece. This is the kind of film thats so entertainingand thought provoking, everybody fails to recognize it.
Val Kilmer plays Tom Val Allen or is it Danny Parker? An a rolethat should deserve him an Oscar nomination but probably won't.The same goes for Vinent D'Onofrio who plays the freaky andscary Pooh Bear.
This film shows us how lost someone can get when you losesomeone. When he loses his wife in the Salton Sea. He travelsthe earth trying to find out why? And finding himself trapped in aseedy, friendly and ugly world of drugs.
Like I mentioned earlier this movie is so excellently done, itprobably won't get recognized for any award. Plus it was releasedto early. But it does come out on dvd soon. Which doesnt matterbecause I saw in theatre 7 times. But when it does rush out andget it.(Sept. 10)All in all Salton Sea is a must, must see!!!!!!!
wannahearmerap?Isawthebestmindsofmygenerationdestroyedbymadnessstarvinghystericalnaked...............
posted on 04 Jan 2009Quirky little film noir about the lovely world of speed freaks. Good performances by all..(Vincent D'Onofrio refuses to look the same in any two movies---the Zelig of the cinematic world)..but the plot lines get almost too tangled for their own good, and the ending is a bit over-the-top. Worth watching, however, despite some obvious flaws. The opening montage about the history of methedrine provides the perfect intro to the wacky antics to follow. And one look at D'Onofrio's make-up will keep "crank" off your kids' to-do list for the foreseeable future.
Competing Films
posted on 25 Nov 2008Spoilers herein.Movies are like nothing else in life. They have a large hand in creating reality for us, and so we give them personalities just like we do to religious forces.So we have the comedy and noir and so on which often take on the same sorts of stereotypical characteristics we give to people. At some point, clever filmmakers, writers and actors started playing off the stereotypes of the film genre as they had been for decades with character stereotypes. Then after a long string of films that had films in them in different roles, David Lynch came along and made a film which consists of two film genre stereotypes battling it out: `Blue Velvet.' The Capra goodness becomes a film Mother nature and an evil noirish thriller type becomes a Satanic deity. They battle for control over what is on the screen, what is in our minds. (The end is a draw.) The actors and characters are mere tokens for the larger battle between two metacharacters.That reinvented the world of possibilities for clever writers, and every one is now trying some sort of battle between film stereotypes that happens behind the scenes. And in doing so, they often play a common dirty trick on the actors involved. Actors are relatively stupid about the big picture because they have to have extraordinary focus on what they do. Their concerns are just different than the filmmakers. So we have a growing practice of filmmakers taking advantage of the cluelessness of the actor in a particular role.We have, for instance Harrison Ford in `Bladerunner.' He's the kind of actor that is genuinely stupid and as a person has no idea of the forces that control his life. Scott puts him in a character where that underpinning, though subtle, helps make the film a masterpiece. The Cohens do this a lot, and the practice is spreading as a major extension of typecasting.Now we have this clever film, `Salton Sea,' that goes halfway toward the film type battle by investing the battle in two method actors, Kilmer and D'Onofrio. One lives in a Tarantino (actually Welles) film, the other in an Aronofsky (actually Tarkovsky) film. Kilmer pretends to be in the Pooh Bear film as a personal conspiracy, consistent with Tarantino-like motives. The `mystery' is in where all the surrounding characters fall, in which film, and ultimately with which film will `win.'Following the Lynch formula (Gayton and Caruso are clever but no artists) the end is a merger of the two film types. Chaos meets self-destruction.I imagine that Caruso worked hard to balance the two film genres, probably talking to each actor separately. Probably keeping a scorecard: one `thriller' plot twist = one comic drug hallucination.Along the way, we get a few self-referential devices. These are also requirements of this new form: a reference to Zapruder -- a film that supports two truths and by extension the fabricated documentary of Stone and his plastic realities. A reference to Bob Hope's crap (read: films) and a plot to coopt it. Lot's of references to other films: `Do you feel lucky?' A `performance' within: Guzman and Unger work their own little embedded film. Another: Kujo creates his own embedded heist film.Its all fun if you love movies. A little sad to see Kilmer's commitment taken advantage of so, but that's the tragedy of the thing. These guys are doomed to unhappy lives unless they cease to act, like DeNiro.It's a fun and clever example of a new type of synthesized, self-referential film, but there's nothing new or particularly lifealtering here.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 4: Has some interesting elements.
One of the best films of the year!
posted on 19 Nov 2008WARNING: although vague, there is a spoiler or two in this article. Immediately, The Salton Sea plunges you into its fast-paced and dark underworld. It opens with a man sadly playing a tune on his trumpet in a room filled with money that is all on fire. His narration tells about his name being Tom Van Allen (or is it Danny Parker?). There is no telling where the story is going to go or what is going to be introduced next. After seeing some advertisement for director D.J. Caruso's The Shield (which had a shameless Memento rip-off scene on it), I thought he would take brilliant new writer Tony Gayton's (Murder By Numbers) script and turn it into a Memento duplication. I was pleasantly surprised at his stylish, slick direction that never goes over the top and even adds a punch to the material. It is beautifully filmed film noir with a knockout cast. Val Kilmer plays a completely different role from any of his previous work. He outstandingly portrays a vulnerable, confused man whose life is going down the drain with his multiple identities and use of crystal meth. D'Onofrio is excellent as always as the bizarre and scary villain; a nose-less drug dealer that calls himself Pooh Bear. Peter Sarsgaard is immensely likable as the loyal, but simple best friend of Danny/Tom.
The two identities of the main character bring you into different parts of the story (pretty cool structuring). Tom Van Allen is one of the identities. He is a depressed trumpet player who grieves over the loss of his beloved wife. He always plays the tune he played for her, a `moody and haunting piece' (a good description for the film). The next identity is Danny Parker, a speed addicted scum-bag-looking man who. The story twists and turns frequently, but fortunately never confuses or muddles. The ending probably won't be predicted by anyone, however.
Any clichès in the story (they are scarse) are hidden by Caruso's creativity. There is a scene where a character is saved by a loss of one bullet in a gun (where doesn't this happen?) but Caruso goes back and shows where they were used and adds the numbers up as they go along onscreen.
The music selected for the film fits it perfectly from Lou Reeds "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" to an effective use of The James Gang's "Funk 49" and The Chemical Brother's "Let Forever Be" to Tantric's "Mourning" and a good trumpet score.
This one is hands down the best film I've seen all year and the best I've ever seen Val Kilmer.
It's just not quite for me...
posted on 18 Jun 2008It's well made, looks good, pretty decent acting, but is about a subject matter that is a bit of a turn off to me. It starts off showing the world of crank from the users perspective and then moves into the dealers. If course, there is a story that brings it all together, but that's probably the weakest part of the movie. It's not bad, but just nothing new. There are some things in this movie I'd venture to say have never been seen before...the scene with the badger comes to mind...or the pigeons...or Bob Hope's stuff. I'm sure there are some that like this movie more than I, but it's just not quite for me. **1/2 (Out of 4)
Great film!
posted on 31 May 2008Some of my friends dragged me to the theater to see The Salton Sea last Friday night. I had no idea what it was about. I had never even heard of it. Much to my surprise I found it to be a very good film. I was surprised at how good the story was. I have recommended it to all of my friends.
Modern film noir at it's best....
posted on 01 May 2008An excellent movie, although dark and malevolent.... a fantastic nocturnal digression into the drug underworld of Southern California. Val Kilmer is worthy of an Academy Award nomination for "Best Actor" with his calculated and emotionally charged performance. The score is moving and also worthy of serious consideration.... modern film noir at it's best.
Beautiful but flawed
posted on 03 Apr 2008I wanted so much to love this film, and at times I did. I was impressed by Vincent D'Onofrio's brilliant portrayal of a white trash meth dealer. I was also impressed by the beautiful cinematography (especially in the haunting opening sequence). The problem was that the film kept falling back on bad cliches. It was almost as if it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be an artwork or a mainstream hit. I guess that I felt it underestimated its audience a bit. Despite that, I would still have left this film feeling that it was quite good if it weren't for the ending, which seemed tacked on and unnecessary. I was disappointed that such a dark, brooding film was so neatly and easily wrapped up. Nevertheless, I still think Salton Sea had some very strong points, not the least of which is its imagery, and is worth seeing.
Reality...
posted on 28 Aug 2009The people responsible for making this film obviously have spent some time in the Salton City because that is EXACTLY what it is like. Everyone I run into comments that they think the Salton Sea is where serial killers and drug dealers go to never be found again. I actually ate lunch there once...and seeing this movie reminded me of that day. The movie itself is a very well written and directed. If you like movies with revenge, plot twists, and the reality of how messed up you can actually be on speed, this movie is for you.