Out of the Blue (1980 film)
Out of the Blue (released in Canada as No Looking Back) is a 1980 Canadian drama film directed by Dennis Hopper and starring him and Linda Manz. The film was produced by Leonard Yakir and written by him and Brenda Nielson. The title is taken from the Neil Young song "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)". It competed for the Palme d'Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. Plot. The film centers on Cebe, a rebellious and troubled young girl, played by Linda Manz — interested only in Elvis Presley and punk rock  music — as well as her ex-convict father Don Barnes (Dennis Hopper), and her high-strung mother Kathy (Sharon Farrell). Production. This was the first film Hopper directed since 1971's "The Last Movie"; he stepped in at the last minute to replace the original director (screenwriter Leonard Yakir). The film was made in Vancouver, and various icons of Vancouver in that era are featured in the film, including the Pointed Sticks, one of the leading bands of Vancouver's punk era. Release. "Out of the Blue" was released in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 5, 1980 . It was later released in Paris on April 15, 1981, New York on April 8, 1983, and in Vancouver. Reception. Film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum considers "Out of the Blue" one of the 15 best films of the 1980s. Manz's performance is still lauded, decades later. Roger Ebert wrote in his 3½-star review that "the movie escalates so relentlessly toward its violent, nihilistic conclusion that when it comes, we believe it." On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 94% from 35 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Led by Linda Manz's outstanding performance , "Out of the Blue" confronts the darker side of human nature with a baleful, clear-eyed stare." In popular culture. The song "Kill All Hippies" from Scottish rock band Primal Scream's 2000 album "XTRMNTR" features a sample of Manz' dialogue from the movie.