Limbo (1999)

Unconventional narrative about the interactions amongst a group of people in a small town in Alaska, each of whom has guards a secret.

Director:

John Sayles

Writer:

John Sayles

Stars:

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, David Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Donna De Angelo
David Strathairn	...	'Jumpin' Joe Gastineau
Vanessa Martinez	...	Noelle De Angelo
Hermínio Ramos	...	Ricky
Kris Kristofferson	...	'Smilin' Jack Johannson
Dawn McInturff	...	Audrey
Casey Siemaszko	...	Bobby Gastineau
Kathryn Grody	...	Frankie
Tom Biss	...	Baines
Rita Taggart	...	Lou
Leo Burmester	...	Harmon King
Michael Laskin	...	Albright
Jimmy MacDonell	...	Randy Mason
Mérit Carlson-van Dort	...	Stacy
Monica Brandner	...	Corky

Storyline

Limbo tells the story of people trying to reinvent themselves in the Southeastern islands of Alaska. The story revolves around Joe Gastineau, a fisherman traumatised by an accident at sea years before, singer Donna de Angelo and her disaffected daughter Noelle who come into Joe's life. When Joe's fast-talking half-brother Bobby returns to town and asks Joe for a favor, the lives of the characters are changed forever.

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Plot Keywords:

alaska | island | singer | wilderness | wedding party | 

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Taglines:

The Only Thing More Dangerous Than Death... Is Survival.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1999 (France)

Also Known As:

Ennen kuolemaa

Filming Locations:

DIPAC Salmon Hatchery - 2697 Channel Drive, Juneau, Alaska, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$139,634 (USA) (4 June 1999)

Gross:

$1,997,807 (USA) (13 August 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Green/Renzi

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In a scene near the beginning Donna (Mastrantonio) and Joe (Straithairn) are riding in his truck. Donna's cigarette smoke is blowing away behind her and in close-up her hair is moving, but throughout the scene you can see the windows are obviously both closed.

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Quotes

Donna: Where are we?
Joe: It's a little inlet, on the back side of Coashov Island
Donna: Is that like up Shit Creek without a paddle?
Joe: Yeah, pretty much.

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Soundtracks

"Lift Me Up"
Written, Produced and Performed by Bruce Springsteen
Courtesy of Columbia Records

User Reviews

A haunting, elegiac thriller.

Having finally caught us with John Sayles' "Limbo", it must be said that the king of the indie scene can still surpass any genre.

Casting his friend (and movie veteran) David Strathairn as an Alaskan fisherman with an emotional crisis is one of the film's many pluses. Strathairn brings an everyman quality to every role he's in. The film is also not unlike Strathairn's own "The River Wild". At least, without the contrivances. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is also good as a bar singer (she sings pretty well too) hauling her teenage daughter (Vanessa Martinez, very good in her debut) through gig after gig. The film also has some thriller elements; but, this of course, is Sayles, who wisely pushes for character development and dialogue ladened with truth.

As he proved with EIGHT MEN OUT, MATEWAN, CITY OF HOPE, and PASSION FISH, Sayles is a truly gifted writer/director. Keep it coming.