Out of the Blue

Rating:
Summary: Dennis Hopper's counterstatement to "Easy Rider"
Review: "Out of the Blue" is arguably Dennis Hopper's best film as a director, even though he does not show too much concern about the camera being in focus at times. Linda Manz plays Cindy "Cebe" Barnes, a young girl whose father (Hopper) is an ex-convict biker and whose mother (Sharon Farrell) is a heroin junkie. It is not any big surprise that Cebe has a hard time coping with her parents' problems. If "Easy Rider" celebrated the counterculture, then "Out of the Blue" is the counterbalance. I think Hopper himself sees the connection between the two films, since "Easy Rider" ends and "Out of the Blue" begins with traumatic violence; they make a fascinating double-feature for some Saturday Night. I also think more people will remember the tagline of this film--"This is Gorgeous. Does anybody out there read me?"-- than will actually remember the film itself. Warning: there are about eight other movies out there with the same title. Be sure this is the one you pick up.

Rating:
Summary: Nice piece of cinema
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: The worst film I have ever seen - by a country mile!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Creepy and disturbing...MUST SEE for BLUE VELVET FANS!
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Out Of The Blue
Review: It was absolutely amazing. The whole movie did not take itself seriously, and there are funny parts, but there are also parts that make you want to curl up into fetal position and cry for hours. The whole film has a very nihilistic view on life, which I think is the way Dennis Hopper saw life at that time, and might still. It's a very powerful film with very powerful performances from Dennis Hopper and the always wonder Linda Manz.


Rating:
Summary: unconvinced
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Shattering Look At One Family's Rapid Destruction
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Dennis Hooper is a Hard Drinking Truck Driver who loses...
Review: 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.