More of this Feature CAST/CREW INTERVIEWS: • Deborah Kara Unger (Colette) and Chandra West (Liz) • Danny Trejo (Little Bill) and Luis Guzman (Quincey) • Doug Hutchison (Morgan) and Josh Todd (Big Bill) SPECIAL GUESTS: • Clifton Collins Jr. ("Mindhunters"), Michelle Branch, and Milo Ventimiglia ("Gilmore Girls")

Related Resources • Gallery of Publicity Stills • Upcoming Releases • New in Theatres or on Video • Romantic Movie Reviews

Elsewhere on the Web • "The Salton Sea" Websites

"The Salton Sea's" lead role required an actor who was able to portray a sense of humanity and vulnerability. Equally as important would be the actor's ability to pull the audience into his dark journey without creating a totally unsympathetic character.

"As the story unfolds, you find yourself feeling sympathy for a character that normally you wouldn't be very sympathetic towards. We needed someone with the acting chops who could pull that off," explains producer, Ken Aguado, adding, "This is a very dark role for an actor and it required someone who would throw himself entirely into the part. Val was our first choice."

After casting Kilmer and watching his performance, Aguado was elated. "Val completely submerged himself in the character. He is very dedicated and serious about his craft, and I think this is one of his best performances," said Aguado.

VAL KILMER (Danny/Tom)

You've described this film as a beautiful love story. Can you talk about that aspect of the film?
Well, it's a story of a man who just can't leave this moment in time when he loses his wife. In order to find out who the murderers are, he becomes - basically - another person and then he gets lost in that character, too. So it's like an onion. The movie is like an onion (laughing). It's really a dynamic story, though. It's hard to describe without sort of giving away parts of the plot that are fun to watch. I hope the critics aren't doing that. The ones I've read are not. They actually stopped me in New York and said, “Don't say that part!” That was nice.

What made you want to take on this role?
Really - everything about it. The story is fantastic and the character has a lot of depth. The cast is fantastic. I was really proud of it.

Was it hard to work in the desert and around the Salton Sea?
Yeah, it was a tough location but it was a good setting. We used to go down there a lot when we were kids because I was raised here, so I like the desert.

Director DJ Caruso at the Premiere of "The Salton Sea."
Photo ©Rebecca Murray. All Rights Reserved.