A dark and disturbing character drama, Powder Blue explores the search for redemption as several peoples’ lives intersect in the days leading up to Christmas. Starring Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker, and Eddie Redmayne, the film has an impressive cast. However, the tone is rather bleak and depressing. And, the resolutions to the character stories come off as contrived, with unearned emotional catharses. Yet there are some interesting things going on, and director Timothy Linh Bui creates some remarkably evocative imagery. Power Blue has lofty aspirations, but it doesn’t quite come together and fails to tell a compelling story.

You need to have the number for the suicide prevention hot-line nearby while watching this movie. It is filmed in the incredibly depressing Crash type of movie where we follow our characters through their morbid lives with death in the air. Jessica Biel's character of the exotic dancer Johnny was so over the top cliche it was ridiculous. She has the parent who was in jail, she's a single mother, her child is gravely ill, and of course the absolute most important part of being a stripper -- a drug problem which has no tie-in to the story whatsoever. Biel's performance is slightly uneven but in fairness, this was a very demanding role. Her on stage time is nicely done and very sultry. Swayze was ridiculous and Kris Kristofferson was almost at cameo status. Forest Whitaker was rock solid and believable in his quest to relieve himself of his broken heart. The man can flat out act. Again, this is very depressing due to the subject material, the style, and the quality of the script.

Coming into this with no real idea what it was about I was really surprised with how solid of a movie this is. Very sad film which deals with very heavy subject matter, but does it in a tasteful way.