Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue (1980) was a showcase of sorts for two actors. One was an up and coming star (Linda Manz) the other was one who was trying to get back into the limelight (Dennis Hopper). The two have managed to pull off their best performances of their careers. I don't think that either of them could ever top it.

The movie is about a shattered family. A tragic accident has landed Don (Dennis Hopper) is prison for running his Big Rig into a stalled school bus. Several years later, his daughter (Linda Manz) who was also involved in the accident is waiting for her father to come back home. She's a wild kid who has no use for authority and likes to spend her time fantasizing about Elvis Pressely and listening to Punk Rock. Mom (Sharon Farrel) is a mess who lives in a constant state of denial. Linda waits for Pop's to get out of prison because she feels that he'll make everything better. Will he?

A great film. Dennis Hopper's acting shines in this film. He also directs with a stylized flair that was apparent in Easy Rider. This film was made during his "down time". After being ostracized from Hollywood due to the mess of The Last Movie and his off screen actions. This was his last stab at trying to get back into the studio system. Linda Manz is great as C.B. But the real reason to watch this movie is Dennis Hopper, he puts on one hell of a show.

Highly recommended.

Actor Dennis Hopper directs this very confronting, symbolic oddball minor art house drama with a very convincing shade peering into the punk rock scene with a raw, but lasting performance by young actress Linda Manz. The film feels rather aimless in a structured sense, centring on the mood swings and angst being drummed out by a wayward teenage girl that uses music (as Elvis is seen as an idol) and the punk scene to getaway from the troubles at home that involve a ditsy, drug-addicted mother (a busy Sharon Farrell) and alcoholic, ex-convict father (a methodically towering Dennis Hopper) that still holds onto a unforgettably tragic wound. It can be a bit of a trek steering more towards interesting than entertaining, as it delves into a well-rounded journey made up of clips involving people, situations and a sense of place. Quite seedy and never did it paint a pretty picture, no matter how hard the characters tried. There's no real choice, but to innocently grow up fast and it becomes a harrowing crash course in destruction, which ends surprisingly to delve out a nastily tearing punch. The script might be blunt, but there's a real natural attitude to the dialogues with an authentic chemistry between the cast in their deliveries. The style is kind of similar to Hopper's benchmark "Easy Riders (1969)", where at times it feels like somebody's home video. Surrounding the air is an excellent old school soundtrack that perfectly complements igniting tones. Hopper does a capable job behind the camera, despite some meandering and forced passages, but even with the minimalist tinge he never loses focused of the story at heart.

Out of The Blue(1980) along with Easy Rider(1969), and Colors(1987) are Dennis Hopper's best movies as a director. One of the best parts of the film is Linda Manz as CeBe who gives a performance that compares greatly with the most famous rebel of all, James Dean. In one way CeBe could be seen as a relative of Jim Stark from Rebel Without A Cause(1955). Out of The Blue begins where Easy Rider ends as it continues the search for an idealize place. It was a terrific film about the Punk Rock generation as Easy Rider was an interesting movie about the hippie generation.

Out of The Blue is comparable to the 1965 Yukio Mishima novel, The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea. They are both about teens who are angered and disillusioned with the adult world. The two teens both idealize and admire the main male adult of the story. Third, CeBe and Noboru both feel betrayed by their heroes(CeBe's Dad, and the sailer) for not being the person they were expected to be. The ending of this film is one of the most bleakest and nihilistic finalles that I've ever seen.

Don't be fooled by the negative reviews. This is definitely worth watching. Linda Manz is INCREDIBLE! Come on! She was in Gummo!!! (She was also in The Wanderers and played a similar tomboy-Jackie Earle in drag (sorta) character). She gets the job done and well is all I'm trying to say. But Dennis Hopper gives an amazing performance as usual in all his psycho glory and the dude who plays Charlie is slimy as hell (good thing){note: I didn't remember it was Don Gordon who also played a sleazy dude in The Mack}. Plus Neil Young songs. What else do you need? My videotape copy has the worst quality of a commercially released video that I've ever been witness to, but I see that the great folks at Anchor Bay have released this on DVD. I'll be buying it soon. You should too.

'Out Of The Blue' is one of the most haunting and disturbing movies ever made. Dennis Hopper has had mixed results as a director, but this is his masterpiece. While nowhere near as well known as the pop culture landmark 'Easy Rider', this is easily a much more important and accomplished work. Filmed in Canada during the period when Hopper was still persona non grata in Hollywood, he may have been out of control in FRONT of the screen (the movie features one of his legendary unhinged performances), but he certainly was fully in control BEHIND the scenes.

Hopper plays Don Barnes, a trucker released from prison who attempts to piece his life and family together while battling the bottle and the repercussions of a tragedy, which still festers like an open wound. His wife Kathy (Sharon Farrell - 'The Stunt Man') is scraping by as a waitress, and is shooting smack and fooling around with his former "best friend" Charlie (Don Gordon - 'The Mack'), a slimy piece of work. The Barnes teenage daughter Cebe (Linda Manz in an unforgettable and star-making role) is running wild, obsessed with Elvis, punk rock and CB radio. The Barnes are doomed. The viewer may not know exactly what is going to happen to this dysfunctional bunch, but it doesn't take Einstein to figure out it ain't gonna be pretty! However the ending is still unexpected and devastating. You'll never forget it.

A nihilistic movie, but a worthwhile one. Simply stunning.