Review of Desert Blue

Desert Blue (1998)
8/10
Quirky and Character-Driven
12 December 2005
I went to see "Desert Blue" without having read much about it. I really liked it.

It reminded me of the little Austrailian movies that are so quirky and character-driven.

It has a very fine cast. Sara Gilbert of Roseanne, ironically, is not playing the TV star who lands in a bit town in the desert, who is played by the more conventionally pretty Kate Hudson; Casey Affleck has brown hair; the ever charming Brendan Sexton III; the always interesting Christina Ricci in mascara mode; John Heard who is becoming like Harvey Keitel in his willingness to be in offbeat projects in addition to mainstream ones.

The leisurely pace takes advantage of a terrific set in Nevada and reveals characters onion-like.

The soundtrack doesn't use Dave Alvin's "Dry River," but the soundtrack was unusual - in addition to groups like the Candyskins, several of the very lyrically-appropriate songs were written by the scorer Vytas Nagisetty and the auteur Morgan J. Freeman - NOT the actor, but who has made several movies with Sexton.

I felt cheated without a final kiss; yeah yeah it's a stereotype but come on, give the audience some dessert. Instead there's a different satisfying ending.

(originally written 6/13/1999)
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