June 3, 1999
Web posted at: 1:25 p.m. EDT (1725 GMT)

By Reviewer Paul Clinton

(CNN) -- One of the dictionary's numerous definitions of "limbo" is "a condition of unknowable outcome." It's an apt way to describe John Sayles' new film "Limbo."

Sayles is one of America's most prolific and evocative filmmaking mavericks. He's either acted in, written for, edited or directed dozens of independent feature films, but he's perhaps best known for movies he's both written and directed such as 1996's "Lone Star," 1992's "Passion Fish," and 1980's "Return of the Secaucus 7."

MULTIMEDIA
Theatrical preview for "Limbo"
Windows Media	28K	80K
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Paul's Pix: "Limbo"
Real	28K	80K
Windows Media	28K	80K

Set in the Alaskan wilderness, his latest work resonates with a past body of films that have showcased Sayles' love of textured tales steeped in local culture. Sayles wrote, directed and edited "Limbo," a tale of people who come together to face nature and their own demons. The outcome is open to question.

In the first half of this story we meet all the key players. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio plays Donna DeAngelo, a down-on-her-luck nightclub singer with no illusions towards greatness, but plenty of illusions still left about men. Vanessa Martinez, who made her feature film debut in Sayles' "Lone Star," plays Donna's daughter, Noelle, who's tired of the road and her mother's unsuccessful quests for love.

While singing in a dive in Juneau, Alaska, Donna starts a flirtation with Joe (David Stratharin), an ex-fisherman with a troubled past. This part was written for Stratharin, who also began his career with Sayles by appearing in "Return Of The Secaucus Seven." "Limbo" is his sixth film helmed by Sayles.

Things heat up in the second part of the film, when the trio heads out on a seemingly innocent boat trip and gets stranded -- left in limbo -- on a deserted island after an unexpected run-in with drug runners.

Sayles is truly a unique filmmaker, fascinated with people and their environments. "Passion Fish" zeroed in on Cajun country and "Lone Star" took us to a Texas boarder town. "Limbo"'s Alaskan setting delivers us to a wild country where Sayles' characters have gone to reinvent themselves, find adventure, or perhaps seek redemption.

Wonderfully acted, and expertly shot by Academy Award winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, "Limbo" is deeply thought-provoking. The first half of this film is an intense character study and a look at the emotional struggles facing our main protagonists. Then we're suddenly thrown into an entirely different movie. "Limbo" becomes an action-adventure and our three main characters now face a different struggle -- one to merely survive.

"Limbo" is fascinating, but be warned. The ending is a major surprise that leaves you in limbo and will either totally tick you off, or amuse you with its amazing audacity. Hate it or love it, you will definitely be talking about this film on the way home.

"Limbo" opens nationwide on Friday June 4 and is rated R for language. 126 minutes.