Out of the Blue

'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.

Long before Larry Clark and his "Kids" came along Dennis Hopper (who made that other classic film about doomed youth - Easy rider) directed this brilliant and hard-edged drama about a rebellious young girl, CB whose father (played brilliantly by Hopper) comes out of prison after a horrific auto accident with a school bus. An angry film that perfectly captures the disillusionment of post-punk youth in modern America (even though the film was shot in Canada). CB's hopes for a normal family life are shattered though and it isn't long till things build to a shocking climax as a revelation about CB's father tears the whole family apart. A typically uncompromising film from rebel Hopper with excellent performances and gritty, realistic direction. This film is a must see for all fans of non-compromising realistic film. See it!

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 (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.

Very depressing and tragic movie. But is definitely a modernized version of Rebel Without A Cause - in the darkest way possible. Dennis Hopper plays the alcoholic so well, it's hard to tell if he's acting or really drunk (or both?) But Linda Manz as CeBe steals the show, in hopes to regain the youthful fun she had with her father before he went to prison 5 years prior. But in her maturity, she realizes how dysfunctional and depraved her surroundings have become. Siding with 'punk rock and Elvis' as a way to rebel and have someone to look up to during her fathers absence. But on his release, he immediately goes back to his drunken ways and making empty promises to Cebe that things will get better. And it's her painful realization that things never will. A fairly good depiction of the Vancouver area and era of the late 70's. Yet the movie has some drawn out scenes which run a bit too long. Soundtrack wise is fitting and not. Neil Young's anthem tune fits it like a loose glove. Disembodied snippets and recitations of Elvis songs seems to throw it off course. And brief exposures of true punk bands like The Pointed Sticks juxtaposed with C&W acts in local bars can almost cause whiplash. Yet, that was the realism back in the day. So possible a more focused and/or coordinated soundtrack may have made the movie more dramatic - but lose the realism...? All in all, it's not an easy watch. But is honest and realistic well before Gasper Noe or Bong Joon Ho. Should something as depressing and depraved as Out Of The Blue exist? I think so, as it's an experience that no doubt exists somewhere to this day for someone - and it's NOT pretty!