January 25, 2010 - The Salton Sea

Thought I was going to catch a little of the old mindless tonight, just for fun. Instead, something solid came my way and I couldn't be happier.

(25) The Salton Sea (2002): Honestly, I don't know how a movie like this escaped me for the past 8 years. It's got a very good Val Kilmer as a tweaker, Peter Sarsgaard in a very sympathetic role as Kilmer's best friend, and a very disturbing and effective Vincent D'Onofrio as a drug dealer. It's also got a lot of great support from the likes of Deborah Kara Unger, Luis Guzman, Anthony LaPaglia, and a lot of other faces you'll recognize.

Kilmer lost his wife. We only know she was somehow killed at the Salton Sea. He's a tweaker and hangs out with Sarsgaard, who has totally smashed too many brain cells with drugs. Kilmer is a narc working for some drug cops, but wants to make one last score to make some big cash and then vanish.

This movie is long on story, the music is soulful, haunting, and spot-on, and the acting overall is way above average. There are some unexpected moments, particularly with Bobby "Rhymes with Hobby" the drug dealer, and a brilliant Mpho Koaho as a gun dealer.

See this movie. This took me way past pleasantly surprised and into the realm of, like I said, how the hell did I miss this movie for the last 8 years.

4 Stars