The Salton Sea

source: The Salton Sea

Val Kilmer is excellent in this well-paced and witty thriller. An early La Paglia is wooden but shows glimpses of his fine (mostly TV) form to come. Basically this is a vengeance movie but it's done pretty well in that it starts with several alternative premises so it's not quite as formulaic as a Die Hard or Lethal Weapon type of film. There's some fine cinematography in this as well. All in all, it's pretty cool and enjoyable although some of the continuity leaves a lot to be desired (in case I can't get it onto the goofs site here, one glaring one is when Kilmer's character takes the drug money to 'Poo-Bear's place and plonks it on the table while the guys are playing cards. In alternating shots it's on the table and then gone. Not too clever.) In short, an enjoyable, though-provoking film.

This is an excruciating yet mesmerizing drama. It is a story of a man's despair and desperation due to his wife's death and what he does about it. He is in a world of drugs and the evil that surrounds that. Rather then glamorize the drug scene as some have suggested this movie goes out of the way to show the filth and vileness of it. The lead actor proves he is at the top of his profession. There are some irritating scenes in the movie which are perhaps explainable by the film being presented through the eyes of a desperate and drugged up individual. Worthy of 7 and a half out of 10, rounded down to: 7/10.

The actor who played Poo Bear really doesn't have a nose. I was amazed to see that he was able to act!!! The movie is dark and weird. Tweakers are the very best that cops have to go on in terms of snitches. There are some greats scenes. Like where a possom almost ate Val Kilmer's manhood. That is a great scene. There are many other great scenes such as the part where Poo Bear says HOT DAMN!!!!! So many good parts to this movie. The one interesting part is how Poo Bear stays awake non stop, even for a year!! Or when the tweakers (the guy from DAZED AND CONFUSED) talk about some MISSION IMPOSSIBLE PLAN. This is a great movie!!

The salton sea is a strange film. Not that good to be considered a cult but not that bad to be completely obscure as the film is today. Val Kilmer plays a trumpeter/ drug mule in this atmospheric film which involves most of the tropes one associates with drug movies- bad cops, revenge, murder of family. It is well lit and the screenplay is pretty alright but the film doesn't turn into a Tarantinoesque material one can relish. Something tells me this would have been a better TV movie. Still, worth a watch, especially if you like Val Kilmer who is quite good here.

Never heard of this movie, just happened to catch it, well worth the view. People praising D'Onofrio's performance are right on the money, I'll never forget Pooh Bear that's for sure. Hang on for the ending, top notch!

An Entertaining and Underappreciated Movie. Val Kilmer is great as Danny Parker. I really enjoyed it.

The Salton Sea is a darkly funny drug/revenge tale that's as wonderful as it is original. I really enjoyed the hell out of this film. This isn't Memento, but in a way it is similar. Instead of having a film that deals with memory loss, this film deals with overcoming drugs, and trying to find a killer. What's odd is how funny the film is. Don't get me wrong, you'll be shocked, you'll be moved, but you're also going to laugh your butt off. Val Kilmer is GREAT!

It's well made, looks good, pretty decent acting, but is about a subject matter that is a bit of a turn off to me. It starts off showing the world of crank from the users perspective and then moves into the dealers. If course, there is a story that brings it all together, but that's probably the weakest part of the movie. It's not bad, but just nothing new. There are some things in this movie I'd venture to say have never been seen before...the scene with the badger comes to mind...or the pigeons...or Bob Hope's stuff. I'm sure there are some that like this movie more than I, but it's just not quite for me. **1/2 (Out of 4)

Surreal and sordid glimpse at the underbelly of drug addiction. This film is narrated by Val Kilmer, who plays Danny Parker, the alias of Tom Van Allen. Danny is a tattooed trumpet player; a crystal meth addict who is lost in his search to find his own identity. Living to binge on speed and serve as a "rat" for two cops, one played by Anthony LaPaglia. Danny witnessed his wife being murdered; he is determined to avenge her death as he drifts in and out of his drugged stupor. My favorite character is the no-nose Pooh-Bear(Vincent D'Onofrio). Others in the cast:Peter Sarsgaard, Glenn Plummer, B.D. Wong, Deborah Kara Unger and Meat Loaf. Directed by D.J. Caruso and written by Tony Gayton, SALTON SEA grim as can be, but worth the off-kilter trip.