Heartless America: BLUE BAYOU

Linda Ronstadt‘s version of the Roy Orbison classic “Blue Bayou” is still a song I don’t mind hearing despite its over familiarity. Alicia Vikander singing it at a Vietnamese picnic, however, was completely unexpected, but enjoyable, never knew she sang. 

Can’t say I’m familiar with actor/writer/director Justin Chon’s previous Indies 2015 MAN UP, 2017 GOOK, 2019 MS PURPLE, but I’m happy for his chance at delivering a wide release film. BLUE BAYOU begins on a close-up of Antonio LeBlanc (played by Chon) interviewing for a job. Born in South Korea and raised from a child by adoptive parents in Louisiana, Antonio needs to supplement his income as a tattoo artist to support his wife (Vikander), his stepdaughter, Jessie (newcomer Sydney Kowalske), and a new baby on the way.  Not sure why you’d take a kid along on a job interview, but it’s the fact that LeBlanc has a record for stealing motor cycles that kills his chances at additional employment.

Jessie’s not Antonio’s child by blood, but he’s been in her life long enough that she calls him Daddy and is worried that things will change between the father/daughter duo, when the new baby arrives. Antonio assures her that she’ll always be #1 with him through a warm, yet melancholy, as only New Orleans can deliver, montage. The two take a hooky day and go off on a motorcycle adventure. Jessie dressed in a pink, punk superhero outfit of her own choosing.  These moments with sparse dialogue aren’t scripted, but rather happened while filming a get-to-know-you between Justin and Sydney before shooting began. 

A B plot involves Antonio becoming friends with an older Vietnamese immigrant woman Parker (Linh-Dan Pham) who is terminal, yet zen.  Of course, the main plot revolves around the ridiculous, cruel, unbelievable reality that a person can be adopted by American parents and yet, due to some loopy legal loop hole, are not considered citizens  of the United States and can and have been deported back to countries they have never known, don’t speak the language, have no family there, don’t have a place to live or means of getting a job.  Justin Chon wanted with Blue Bayou to shine another light on this very un-American part of the US immigration laws.  

Blue Bayou can definitely be categorized as a tear-jerker, with an odd, but surprisingly believable role for Vikander, who has played a lot of things, but never would I have thought to cast her as a low-middle class Louisiana native.  There’s also some beautiful water and Asian imagery throughout which keeps it from being just an issue film. 

T&T @LAMB rating: 3 outta 5

Review from my fellow Critic of the
Philadelphia Film Critics Circle

On the surface, Antonio is a classic underdog: A Korean face paired with a southern accent, a thief who steals for noble reasons, and a stepfather struggling with his role in a young girl’s life. But Blue Bayou lets him off the hook at every turn, rarely forcing him to actually make constructive decisions that challenge his worldview or bring him out of his comfort zone. Every narrative speed bump is someone else’s fault — be it Kathy’s ex, his disgusting partner, irritable employers, or our unfeeling court system. Blue Bayou feels like a delicate character study, but it’s all a smokescreen… READ MORE F THIS MOVIE  by Rob DiCristino