Desert Blue (1998)
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37% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(1,343 ratings)
Morgan J. Freeman directed this comedy-drama that takes place in the desert town of Baxter Beach, California, where the locals, lookers, visitors and slackers include dreamer Blue (Brendan Sexton III), pipe-bomb babe Ely (Christina Ricci), all-terrain-vehicle champ Pete (Casey Affleck), nerdy Sandy… More Morgan J. Freeman directed this comedy-drama that takes place in the desert town of Baxter Beach, California, where the locals, lookers, visitors and slackers include dreamer Blue (Brendan Sexton III), pipe-bomb babe Ely (Christina Ricci), all-terrain-vehicle champ Pete (Casey Affleck), nerdy Sandy (Sara Gilbert), TV star Skye (Kate Hudson), and chubby Cale (Ethan Suplee). Blue's dad, who had hoped to bring water to the town, died mysteriously in a hotel fire, leaving an abandoned water slide, and Blue hopes to fulfill his father's dream by completing the water slide attraction. Actress Skye is just passing through with her father, a pop-culture prof. (John Heard), but they're forced to stay in town after a truck-spill leads to a quarantine and the presence of both an FBI agent (Michael Ironside) and an EPA agent (Aunjanue Ellis). Skye gets caught up in local fun and games (orange baseball, potato cannon salvos), while her dad reminisces about the '60s with UFO fanatic Caroline (Lucinda Jenney). Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Morgan J. Freeman
- Written By
- Morgan J. Freeman
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 18, 1999 Wide
- On DVD
- Dec 28, 1999
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Strains itself in trying to be relentlessly offbeat.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...coast[s] along on the charisma of the actors...
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
This quirky and endearing film celebrates the ways in which people can bond together, share dreams, and change their lives in the midst of a crisis.
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Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
Another reason to abolish the now-abhorrent [Sundance] festival altogether.
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Peter Henne, Film Journal International
Freeman seems to have spent much time lining up the plotlines, but somewhere along the way forgot to impart grit and substance to his characters.
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Cast
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Kate Hudson
as Skye
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Christina Ricci
as Ely
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John Heard
as Father
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Lucinda Jenney
as Caroline
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Casey Affleck
as Pete
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Sara Gilbert
as Sandy
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Isidra Vega
as Haley
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Ethan Suplee
as Cale
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Michael Ironside
as Agent Bellows
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Aunjanue Ellis
as Agent Summers
- Lee Holmes
- Peter Sarsgaard
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Brendan Sexton III
as Blue Baxter
