Cebe (the striking young Linda Manz) is an alienated teenager who adores Elvis and who is also strongly attracted to the punk scene. The hero of her life is her father Don (Dennis Hopper, who also directs). Don is a hopeless drunk who's just finished a stretch in prison; Cebe's mother Kathy (the under-rated Sharon Farrell) is a junkie. Family friend Charlie (the great character actor Don Gordon) is an antagonistic creep. Cebe really has no good adult role models in her life, and must face up to the fact that the father that she idealized as a kid is not the man she made him out to be.
Ultimately sad and disturbing, "Out of the Blue" is one of those little films you may not have heard of, but which deserves your attention. With a good script by Leonard Yakir and Brenda Neilson, it illustrates in a devastating manner a situation where the so-called "adults" are even more screwed up than the child. Indeed, there doesn't seem to be much hope for Cebe's future, as a psychiatrist (Raymond Burr, wasted in two brief scenes) tries to warn her.
For all of his real-life problems, Hopper proves once again how masterful he could be as a director. He makes this a grimly compelling film with tons of dreary atmosphere. But the main draw is the great performance by Ms. Manz (who sadly passed away not that long ago), who is alternately sympathetic and antagonistic herself. Her performance is utterly real at all times: while this is a girl who is a little too eager to grow up, she still comes across as vulnerable. Hopper delivers a typically demented performance, and Farrell and Gordon are excellent as well.
Hopper may have been on the outs in Hollywood during this time, but the result is one of his most interesting and affecting pictures. The ending is not to be forgotten.
Filmed in Vancouver, this was originally titled "Cebe", but Hopper changed the title after hearing the Neil Young classic "My My Hey Hey" on the radio.
Eight out of 10.
Ultimately sad and disturbing, "Out of the Blue" is one of those little films you may not have heard of, but which deserves your attention. With a good script by Leonard Yakir and Brenda Neilson, it illustrates in a devastating manner a situation where the so-called "adults" are even more screwed up than the child. Indeed, there doesn't seem to be much hope for Cebe's future, as a psychiatrist (Raymond Burr, wasted in two brief scenes) tries to warn her.
For all of his real-life problems, Hopper proves once again how masterful he could be as a director. He makes this a grimly compelling film with tons of dreary atmosphere. But the main draw is the great performance by Ms. Manz (who sadly passed away not that long ago), who is alternately sympathetic and antagonistic herself. Her performance is utterly real at all times: while this is a girl who is a little too eager to grow up, she still comes across as vulnerable. Hopper delivers a typically demented performance, and Farrell and Gordon are excellent as well.
Hopper may have been on the outs in Hollywood during this time, but the result is one of his most interesting and affecting pictures. The ending is not to be forgotten.
Filmed in Vancouver, this was originally titled "Cebe", but Hopper changed the title after hearing the Neil Young classic "My My Hey Hey" on the radio.
Eight out of 10.