The Salton Sea (2002)

After a tragic incident, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies.

Director:

D.J. Caruso

Writer:

Tony Gayton

Stars:

Val Kilmer, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Goldberg

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
BD Wong	...	Bubba
R. Lee Ermey	...	Verne Plummer
Shalom Harlow	...	Nancy
Shirley Knight	...	Nancy Plummer
Meat Loaf	...	Bo

Storyline

After the murder of his beloved wife, Danny Parker is set adrift in a world where nothing is as it seems. On his journey he befriends slacker Jimmy the Finn and becomes involved in rescuing his neighbor Colette from her own demons. Danny is antagonized by undercover narcotics agents and sadistic dealer Pooh-Bear.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | male in shower | sex scene | remote control car | neighbor neighbor relationship | 

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Taglines:

If You're Looking For The Truth, You've Come To The Wrong Place.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, drug use, language and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director D.J. Caruso's first feature film.

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Goofs

When Danny enters the house of pooh bear before the final chapter, he wears two rings on his right hand. After the shoot out he is wearing a third ring.

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Quotes

Pooh-Bear: [Danny accidentally spills a drink on one of Pooh-Bear's thugs at the table, who jumps out of his seat to fight him] Skipper, Skipper goddammit! Calm down get yourself a beer, GET YERSELF A BEER BOY!"
Pooh-Bear: He just a lil upset there...
[Pooh bear opens the large duffel bag full of money]
Pooh-Bear: Oh now here we go look at this, look at this here... Good job Danny. That's a lot of money there. This is enough to make you weep. - Bill...?
[calls out to Big Bill with a thick country accent]
Pooh-Bear: BILL YA OUGHT TO COME IN ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Credits end with this statement: If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, or to find out about treatment programs near you, call the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or to find out more about methamphetamine visit SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information's web site at www.health.org.

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Connections

Referenced in White Noise (2005)

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Soundtracks

Walk On The Wild Side
Written and Performed by Lou Reed
Courtesy of The RCA Music Group, a unit of BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

Great movie, it's just that simple...

This 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…'

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 2002 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

The Salton Sea

Filming Locations:

St. Vincent Catholic Church - 621 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$166,309, 28 April 2002

Gross USA:

$764,554

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,073,198

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Darkwoods Productions, Humble Journey Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1