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Out of Blue

Play trailer 1:51 Poster for Out of Blue 2019 1h 50m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
37% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 31% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Mike Hoolihan is an unconventional New Orleans cop investigating the murder of renowned astrophysicist Jennifer Rockwell, a black hole expert found shot to death in her observatory. As Mike tumbles down the rabbit hole of the disturbing case, she finds herself grappling with increasingly existential questions of quantum mechanics, parallel universes, and exploding stars - cosmic secrets that may hold the key to unraveling the crime, while throwing into doubt her very understanding of reality.

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Out of Blue

Out of Blue

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Critics Consensus

Out of Blue smolders without ever really sparking to life -- which, considering the source material and talent assembled, can only be considered a disappointment.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 04/17/2019
2.5/4
I just wasn't clear what it was I was supposed to be taking away from anything I had just watched. Go to Full Review
Anthony Lane The New Yorker 04/01/2019
Viewers who like their mysteries to be solved, rather than merely mused upon, should prepare for bewilderment. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Observer (UK) 03/31/2019
5/5
When a film-maker aims this high, how can one do anything but watch in wonder? Go to Full Review
Calum Cooper Source (Scotland) 07/14/2024
3/5
We may not always know what’s going on, but the character of Hoolihan is sympathetic, complex, and driven, elevated by Clarkson’s allure and subdued emotion. Go to Full Review
Natasha Alvar The Critical Movie Critics 03/22/2021
The issue here is that surrealism and the detective narrative aren't exactly the most complimentary, especially when it lulls the viewer into a state we call sleep. Go to Full Review
Tom Beasley Flickering Myth 08/16/2020
4/5
Morley delights in allowing the story, adapted from the Martin Amis novel Night Train, to unfurl in slippery and enjoyable fashion. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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10/20/2022 I stayed with it, waiting but not sure what for - the acting was better than the plot (well don't think there really is one) See more isla s 09/03/2022 This is not a film for everyone - its very much an arty film with a fair amount of philosophy/cosmology present at times, that may put some people off. I suppose its a little slow plot wise but I liked that it gives the viewer time to contemplate things. It emphasises/focusses in on the colour blue a lot (the blue of the sea and, moreso, the sky (but I guess the films title hinted at that). There is quite a melancholic feel to it but I liked following the main character, Mike, around, discovering what they discovered. I thought Miriam was a particularly interesting character. I also liked the musical score - it's not too loud and jarring or anything - it highlights the main characters curiosiy and perseverence to solve the case. I felt this film is rather understated. To some it may appear quite bleak and bland but I see its appeal - its not entirely memorable but it's worth seeing I reckon anyway, so yes, I'd recommend it, so long as you know what kind of film it is. I reckon it'd look particularly good seeing it, visually, on as large a screen as possible. See more 02/24/2022 Better Murder Mysteries Exist On ITV or BBC, Such As Vere, Frost Or Even The Bill. This Tries To Set The Scene In Mississippi, In The Threads Of "True Detective" - But Against That Masterpiece Of Film Making, This Is A Deplorable Mess..With Very Crap Acting. Absolutely Terrible Scene Segue Attempts That Don't Develop Any Validation Of Its Comprising Parts. A Good Example Of Crappy Film-Making That Others Will Dress As Film-Making Mess That Is Supposed?? Genius?? ..Ahhh, No...This Is Rubbish, Just Live With It & Move On.. See more ronald h 02/19/2022 Although it's billed as a thriller, a lot of viewers will find "Out of Blue" infuriatingly slow and deliberate. Yes, it's a murder mystery. But it's also ruminative concerning issues like our place in the universe and the paradoxical nature of events and our perception of them. Schrödinger's cat is mentioned a lot. Sound confusing? It is, intentionally so. Patricia Clarkson plays Mike Hoolihan, a middle aged New Orleans detective investigating the murder of astrophysicist Jenifer Rockwell (Mamie Gummer). She was shot to death in the observatory where she had just delivered a lecture about the mysteries of the universe. We hear a lot of talk in this film about how we are all stardust. Suspects in the crime include fellow professor Ian Strammi (Tony Jones) and Rockwell's boyfriend Duncan (Jonathan Majors). The murder also has the same modus operandi of a known serial killer from years past. James Caan plays Rockwell's irate father, a retired war hero who may be a key figure in the case. All the ingredients for a juicy mystery are here, but the pace is almost somnolent. Lovers of fast action will be asleep 30 minutes into this film. Those who choose to stay awake will have a lot to ponder. Symbolism abounds, from repeated passages with Brenda Lee singing "I'll Be Seeing You"(too many times!) to Hoolihan's cat (just to remind us of Schrödinger), to a jar of Hydra skin cream, to mysterious rolling blue marbles. The New Orleans portrayed here is not the bright, noisy Bourbon Street city, but a quiet place of dark, muted colors. Clarkson's strong performance is magnetic enough to hold our interest in spite of all the arcane goings on. She's emotionally reserved, a recovering alcoholic. Her police work is intuitive and thoughtful. She skillfully underacts, so when she finally flares up later in the film, it has real impact. I found this film to be entertaining, in spite of its artsy self-consciousness. But many viewers will not have the patience for it. See more 07/05/2021 In the end i was completely bemused as to what was going on , there was a strain of David Lynch allusions throughout . There was no one carrying a log or wrapped in bubblewrap , Give it a miss . See more 07/04/2021 Casting Patricia Clarkson in the lead detective role was a huge mistake. We simply cannot accept a detective that delivers every line as though she's on Valium. Her pacing was so lethargic, I found myself wondering if it had been me who was killed instead of the character on the movie. See more Read all reviews
Out of Blue

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Movie Info

Synopsis Mike Hoolihan is an unconventional New Orleans cop investigating the murder of renowned astrophysicist Jennifer Rockwell, a black hole expert found shot to death in her observatory. As Mike tumbles down the rabbit hole of the disturbing case, she finds herself grappling with increasingly existential questions of quantum mechanics, parallel universes, and exploding stars - cosmic secrets that may hold the key to unraveling the crime, while throwing into doubt her very understanding of reality.
Director
Carol Morley
Producer
Luc Roeg, Cairo Cannon, Maggie Monteith
Screenwriter
Carol Morley
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
independent entertainment, Cannon and Morley Productions
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 22, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 29, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.7K
Runtime
1h 50m
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