Coastlines (2006)

48% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
39% of users liked it
(1,670 ratings)

Victor Nuñez's Coastlines centers on Sonny (Timothy Olyphant), who is returning home after his release from prison. When he asks for money owed to him by local crime boss Fred Vance (William Forsythe), Vance responds by blowing up Sonny's home (causing the death of Sonny's father). Sonny moves in… More Victor Nuñez's Coastlines centers on Sonny (Timothy Olyphant), who is returning home after his release from prison. When he asks for money owed to him by local crime boss Fred Vance (William Forsythe), Vance responds by blowing up Sonny's home (causing the death of Sonny's father). Sonny moves in with old friends Dave and Ann (Josh Brolin and Sarah Wynter), even though Dave is now a policeman. Ann, who has grown bored by her husband's conversion from wild man to cop, begins an affair with Sonny. Nuñez wrote this script before his breakthrough films Ruby in Paradise and Ulee's Gold, but directed it after making those movies. Coastlines was screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Victor Nuñez
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 31, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Feb 6, 2007
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
The third entry lacks the subtle power of the previous two efforts.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
The talent is still there, the film better than most. It just needs less crime, more love.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
A skeeter noir bogged down in the unconvincing pulp of a melodrama without conviction.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
Proves that while Ulee's Gold was an exceptional movie, it wasn't a fluke. Nuñez just needs to search past the Panhandle for fresh material.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
The stuff of pulp, seriously at odds with what the writer-director has always done best. That is, show the inner workings of people, their needs, their fears, their small dreams.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Nunez's fans will appreciate his ability to evoke a palpable atmosphere. But there's just not enough spark in his scorched setting.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Disappointing low-key modern film noir.
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
Seems to want to make a point but never does.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
Again, Nunez proves himself a master of understatement, presenting another poignant, slice-of-life drama peopled with vulnerable, fully fleshed-out characters caught-up in a complex situation.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
A modern morality play placing recognizably real principals in palpable predicaments which keep the picture compelling as the plot repeatedly endeavors to juxtapose the competing themes of redemption and revenge.
Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
It's flawed but no less fascinating for its mood of simmering tension on the fringes of the American dream.
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
There's so much simmering behind the characters that the film seems to get away from Nunez, which is fine. The messy emotions and illogic of human nature defines this drama.
Marta Barber, Miami Herald
Keeps you entertained throughout its two hours, which says a lot about Nunez's storytelling.
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
Despite good performances, this attempt to intertwine a crime thriller with a love triangle never gels...Fans of Ulee's Gold, Ruby in Paradise, and A Flash of Green are likely to feel disappointed by this decidedly lesser effort.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Longtime independent writer-director Victor Nunez brings a rare combination of homegrown regional sensibility and genuine filmmaking skills to his low-key stories of small-town life on Florida's gulf coast.
Keith Phipps, AV Club
[The love triangle] plays more like canned heat than blazing inferno...

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Coastlines" starts with Sonny(Timothy Olyphant) returning home after spending three years in prison, being greeted by his old friend Dave(Josh Brolin) and his wife Ann(Sarah Wynter). Dave, a policeman, is worried that Sonny will fall back into a life… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Coastlines" starts with Sonny(Timothy Olyphant) returning home after spending three years in prison, being greeted by his old friend Dave(Josh Brolin) and his wife Ann(Sarah Wynter). Dave, a policeman, is worried that Sonny will fall back into a life of crime. And his concern is definitely warranted since Sonny pays a visit to Eddie Vance(Josh Lucas) and his uncle Fred(William Forsythe) to inquire about the money that is owed him. Despite Sonny's previous loyalty, the Vances fear trouble and contact a hitman...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Coastlines" is a disappointing movie from Victor Nunez whose two previous films, "Ruby in Paradise" and "Ulee's Gold," were well-acted, low-key and emotionally resonant depictions of small town Florida.(In fact, "Ulee's Gold" was my pick for best film of 1997.) This time around, he stumbles badly with cliches(starting with an ex-con returning home facing choices...), pedestrian directing, general lifelessness and an anti-climax. Just about when it looks like the story will pick up, it falls into a rut, never to escape. And it is always best to let things simmer, instead of relying on unnecessary explosions. Maybe it would have helped if Josh Lucas had been cast in the lead. I am not saying he is a great actor but at least he has a pulse and could have made Sonny at least a little interesting.[/font]