Friday, May 9, 2008

The Salton Sea (2002) R - 2½ Stars

A rat gets revenge for drug dealing dirty cops that kill his wife. The movie has a lot of freaky people in it with their addictions that make you twitch. Like the Pooh Bear who doesn't have a nose anymore and applies a fake one. You don't know exactly who Thomas /Danny is as his life takes on so many characters. Devoted husband avenging his wife's killer, speed freak, rat, drug dealer, or trumpet player.

Thomas Van Allen aka Danny Parker (Val Kilmer) used to play the trumpet pretty well. He lost his wife in a cross fire of bullets and lives in the desert by the Saltan Sea. In the land of the perpetual night parties, he's gone undercover to try and find his wife's killer. He's become part of crystal methamphetamine "gake" scene and tattooed his body and spiked his hair.

He has his hands full working under cover for narcotics cops Garcetti (Anthony Lapaglia) and Morgan Tanner (Doug Hutchison) while trying to save his good looking neighbor Colette (Deborah Kara Unger) from her evil demons.

When Danny feels he's close to finding out who his wife's killer is he enlists the help of his his best friend Jimmy the Fin (Peter Sarsgaard), another drug addict, willing to do anything for Danny. Jimmy even has his arm tattooed with Danny's face, to show his devotion. They try and pull off a huge narcotic deal with meth warlord Pooh Bear (Vincent D'Onofrio).

Rumor has it that Pooh Bear has lost his nose from doing too much blow. His plans take many twists and turns but when the movie ends we know why Danny thinks the easy way out is to die in a burning hotel room playing his trumpet.

Warner Bros Pictures
Director: D.J. Caruso
Writer: Tony Gayton
Producers: Frank Darabont, Eriq La Salle, Ken Aguado
I viewed 4/07

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