Customer Reviews

Out of the Blue

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Originally destined to be a rather innocuous melodrama starring Raymond Burr, this became something far different when Dennis Hopper took the directorreins.

Hopper turned the focus off of psychologist Burr and onto destructive teen Linda Manz, and in the process created one of the only truly punk films. Manz is exceptional as CeBe Barnes, a girl who quickly finds that the return of her father (Hopper) from prison will not spell the familial bliss she had hoped for, and more likely lead to much worse.

In addition to Manz' stunning portrayal, Hopper and Sharon Farrell are superb as the girl's burnt-out and unreliable parents in this disturbingly dead-on look at a family on the brink.

DVD transfer is gorgeous, a welcome replacement for the criminally atrocious EP tapes that have been floating around for awhile. Features a neat trailer and radio spot from Jack Nicholson. Commentary from Hopper, producer Paul Lewis, and the distributor is fascinating, though far too sporadic.

After this movie, the only thing left unanswered is why we haven't seen the wonderfully talented Linda Manz onscreen more often.

When we first see Cebe Barnes (Linda Manz) she seems to be a normal girl enjoying a happy childhood. She wears clown makeup and sits on her dad's lap as he drives her to school on a rainy day. Our preconceptions are shattered however after we witness her father (Dennis Hopper) hand her his empty beer bottle so that he can pop some pills. While he's getting high he loses control of his vehicle and plows into an oncoming school bus killing dozens of children and sending him to jail for 8 years. This is only the first scene. Things can only get darker from here and believe me they do.

While her father sits in jail, Cebe is left to fend for herself. Her mother is no help since she spends her days sleeping with her boss and her nights shooting up with Hopper's pals and sleeping with them too. A pissed off Cebe, hating school and her home life, dreams of nothing more than to escape from it all. She hitchhikes all over Vancouver winding up at punk rock concerts where she feeds off the anger and energy of the crowd. A product of her parents Cebe loves to get high and start fights. There is a terrifying scene midway through the film where a passed out Cebe, after shooting up, almost gets raped by a john who picked her up and brought her back to his drug pad. The camera pans over to a stoned woman in lingerie watching all this as it happens. Cebe is a huge Elvis fan and has built a shrine to him in her room. It's safe to say she looks up to the King as much as she does her father since their pictures are side by side. Cebe dreams of him coming home and reconciling with her mother. She longs for things to go back to normal (or as normal as this life sadly must seem to someone living it). After Hopper is finally released from jail he has a hard time re-adjusting to life on the outside. He doesn't seem all that shocked to learn his wife's drug use has intensified since he's been away or the fact that she's sleeping with his best friend (Don Gordon). He joins the two of them in getting high. Being addicts, their relationship is built on paranoia and an uncontrollable urge to score. Their fighting turns physical and soon not even Cebe is safe from her dad's wrath. Making matters worse is the fact that the parents of the dead children from the bus crash show up at Hopper's door intent on making him pay for his crimes. Some of the stuff that happens is among the most shocking and disturbing I've ever seen in a film. The last 30 minutes in particular are too horrifying to think about yet once seen it'll stay etched in your memory for a long time.

Hopper does an amazing job as both actor and director. He rubs viewers faces right in the nastiness. We become unwilling participants in the downward spiral of this family. It doesn't take much imagination to see why this is one of writer/director Harmony Korine's favorite films. (For all of the nastiness in 'KIDS', I found this film far more harrowing). Linda Manz does a phenomenal job bringing this complicated character to life. Cebe is exposed to so much violence and darkness that Manz as an actress has to convincingly sell those feelings of hopelessness and despair. She does so a little too effectively. Probably the only moments of relief come from Raymond Burr who has a small role as a social worker trying to break through to Cebe and help her turn her life around before it's too late.

This is one harrowing film experience. It's not pleasant at all nor is it meant to be. Dennis Hopper deserves a lot of credit for sticking to his vision no matter how disturbing it is. He first did it in 'Easy Rider' and he does it again here - taking you on an intense journey that you know will end badly yet when it does you're completely shocked and devastated.

When I went to the theatre to see this 20 plus years ago (!!!) I did not know what to expect and at first it did not fit the description, but Dennis Hopper's directing and acting is a perfect back drop for Linda Manz's incredibe star performance. Way more "Punk" then most Punk films. And probably Dennis Hopper's most important film, and perhaps his least regarded.

It's great to finally see a gorgeous transfer of this film. Anchor Bay has done a splendid job and should be commended for it. This is an incredibly strong return to directing for Hopper. You can feel his need to make films in every shot. The disc comes with a powerful trailer, a radio spot, and a running commentary by Hopper and the film's producers. Much like Hopper's commentary for Easy Rider, Out Of The Blue is no treat. Hopper seems to get lost watching his films. He has to constantly be prodded to talk. I am under the impression that he feels that both films speak for themselves and to elaborate further somehow demeans his work. Instead of giving us background information he gives a play by play of what we are watching. Aside from that this DVD is a very welcome part of my collection. By all means avoid the Gemstone release of this film. It is the worst edition of Out Of The Blue I have ever seen.

i'm no film expert, but i found it an interesting film that, to me, went a little in the gratuitous shock direction at the end. still, there were some fine performances, not least from newcomer linda manz; as a character study, definitely worth a look.

Bought this having never heard of it, solely on the recommendation of a friend and trusting in the quality of Anchor Bay DVD releases. I found this to be a fascinating directoral effort by Dennis Hopper who maintains a real sense of despair throughout - his acting is superb as usual as well. I've heard from many that Linda Manz's performance was the highlight, but I felt her delivery of much of the dialogue was too stiff - still, much better than most young actors handed such a role. Overall, you leave the film feeling as if there's something missing - the climax is late in the film and its resolution is ultimately unsatisfactory. Additional interplay between Manz's character and her parents, especially Hopper, would've strengthened the film a great deal. Still, well worth watching and it sticks with you after you've finished. And as usual, a marvelous transfer from Anchor Bay.

When I went to the theatre to see this 20 plus years ago (!!!) I did not know what to expect and at first it did not fit the description, but Dennis Hopper's directing and acting is a perfect back drop for Linda Manz's incredibe star performance. Way more "Punk" then most Punk films. And probably Dennis Hopper's most important film, and perhaps his least regarded.

If you're a fan of BLUE VELVET you'll enjoy the scene between the father and daughter involving the white cotton panties.

Darkly Disturbing.
Dennis Hopper is a genius, even when he's drunk!

I got Out of the Blue on the strength that I enjoy the acting of Raymond Burr, and his performance was great, but the movie was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I guess that I like something to make me think in a new creative way that is positive or watch something interesting that enlightens me or has a mystery or is entertaining. Instead I found this movie dramatic, yes, stirring, sure, and very emotionally packed, but with WHAT? It was very disturbing and got worse from the beginning to the bitter end and I found no value it it at all as entertaining, but rather felt I had to ENDURE through it. It was a total waste of my money but moreover, it was a waste of my emotions. I DO NOT recommend this movie and thought that every other word being F was surely distracting also. I know it was supposed to portray a disturbed household but it did nothing for me to see this escalating roller coaster of emotion and if I'd have known I'd not have ever purchased it. I hated it and am going to throw it in the garbage and would not even return it. It needs to be out of the hands of anyone. It is gross, senseless and doesn't do a thing for your mind but expose you to discord and emotional upheaval without letup. It was horrible.

I had the misfortune to see this film in Sydney, Australia last night (on 27th November 2002) in the presence of Dennis Hopper himself. No plot, no story, inept direction, appalling sound. After the screening, Hopper in a Q and A said even tho it was financed by a Canadian organisation when it was screened at Cannes (and how, I can't imagine) the Canadians wanted nothing to do with it. It was never released on a major scale. I'm not surprised.