Watch Almost Blue

Almost Blue is a 1996 thriller film directed by Keoni Waxman and starring Michael Madsen, Lynette Walden, and Garrett Morris. The movie is based on the eponymous novel by Carlo Lucarelli and tells the story of a blind student, Simone, who becomes involved in a murder investigation after hearing certain sounds from her window. The movie is set in Bologna, Italy, and starts with the discovery of a murdered girl's body. Detective Grazia Negro (played by Walden) is assigned to the case, but she doesn't make much progress until she meets Simone (played by Susanna Simonetti), who helps her identify a sound that she heard on the night of the murder. Simone, who is blind, has a rare ability to associate different sounds with colors, and she explains that she heard a blue sound that night, which helps the detective track down the killer.

Meanwhile, Simone befriends a neighbor named Massimo (played by Madsen), who is also blind but has a different outlook on life. Massimo is a musician and spends his days playing the saxophone, whereas Simone spends hers painting and listening to music. The two develop a romantic relationship, which adds an emotional dimension to the story.

As the investigation progresses, Grazia starts to suspect that Massimo may be involved in the murder, and she keeps a close eye on him. However, Simone defends Massimo, and their relationship becomes strained. The tension reaches a peak when Simone has a nightmare in which she sees Massimo killing the girl, but she can't be sure if it's just her imagination or a real memory.

The plot thickens when Grazia discovers that the killer is a man named Mancini (played by Rolando Ravello), who is obsessed with Simone and has been spying on her. Mancini is also blind but uses his other senses to compensate for his lack of sight. He has been stalking Simone for months, and when he hears her having sex with Massimo, he becomes jealous and decides to kill the object of his desire.

The final act of the movie is a tense confrontation between Grazia, Simone, Massimo, and Mancini. The four characters end up in a dark and deserted warehouse, where Mancini has dragged Simone. He plans to kill her in front of Massimo and Grazia and then commit suicide. However, the detectives manage to intervene just in time, and a violent struggle ensues. The climax is intense and includes several twists and turns, but ultimately justice is served, and the killer is brought to justice.

Almost Blue is a well-crafted thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end. The movie is atmospheric and visually striking, with a great use of colors and shadows. The performances are also strong, with Madsen delivering a nuanced and convincing portrayal of a blind musician trying to navigate a world that he can't see. Walden is also excellent as the tough and intelligent detective who has to balance her professional obligations with her personal life. However, the real standout is Susanna Simonetti, whose performance as Simone is both vulnerable and captivating. She manages to convey the character's mix of strength and fragility, and her ability to "see" with her ears is fascinating to watch.

Overall, Almost Blue is a must-see for fans of the thriller genre. It's a gripping and suspenseful movie that explores the nature of perception and the limits of human senses. The plot is complex but never confusing, and the characters are memorable and layered. The movie may not be suitable for all audiences, as it contains some violent and intense scenes, but those who appreciate a good mystery will find plenty to enjoy here.

Almost Blue is a 1993 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8.