Blue Bayou

Focus Features | Release Date: September 17, 2021

6.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Ratings

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JojoSarangSep 20, 2021

Wtf did I watch?! First off stop lying with these rates secondly none can act and Justin wtf it sounds like you are humiliating people from the south. Making fun of them or what?! Seriously the terrible accent is disgustingly disturbing!Wtf did I watch?! First off stop lying with these rates secondly none can act and Justin wtf it sounds like you are humiliating people from the south. Making fun of them or what?! Seriously the terrible accent is disgustingly disturbing! That’s not how they sound bro! And who are these other ones? Sorry not sorry Justin you and your fake actors this movie was pointless. Oh a tearjerker?! Ok put anyone in that scenario yup y’all make viewers cry. But what they really crying at is the bad acting, the horrible horrible accents, the scenes of Justin trying to act all tough seriously please stop. This is a waste of time and money! This movie doesn’t even deserve a one star! Get it together people!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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TVJerrySep 21, 2021

Korean-American filmmaker Justin Chon writes/directs and plays the lead, a tattoo artist who lives in the Louisiana bayou with his wife (Alicia Vikander) and her small daughter (Sydney Kowalske). Even though he was adopted at age 3 and hasKorean-American filmmaker Justin Chon writes/directs and plays the lead, a tattoo artist who lives in the Louisiana bayou with his wife (Alicia Vikander) and her small daughter (Sydney Kowalske). Even though he was adopted at age 3 and has been in the States for 30 years, an outdated law denying citizenship results in the threat of his deportation. This is def a message film (including deportation stats in the closing credits) and the script sometimes wander from focus, but the performances are outstanding. Kowalske is exceptionally charming and moving, especially in the devastating final scene. Director Chon likes the indie style with busy hand-held cameras right up in the face, focusing on the acting talent. The family's situation is complex without an easy solution, which gives the film extra heft, but the performances make the film worthwhile.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Brent_MarchantJul 5, 2022

When a loophole in an official policy results in an inherently unfair practice, attention must be placed on it to make the public aware of this legitimized slight, especially when it amounts to an agenda-driven act of injustice. Such is theWhen a loophole in an official policy results in an inherently unfair practice, attention must be placed on it to make the public aware of this legitimized slight, especially when it amounts to an agenda-driven act of injustice. Such is the case for a US government immigration practice that allows legally adopted children from overseas to be deported many, many years after the fact, an issue documented in writer-actor-director Justin Chon’s 2021 drama, which is now making the rounds on cable TV and streaming services. Told through the eyes of a 33-year-old Korean adult who was adopted by American parents as a child, the film follows his odyssey when faced with a seemingly absurd but legally sanctioned deportation order after 30 years in the US, potentially forcing him to leave behind his wife, stepdaughter and expectant child, all of them citizens. While the film has more than its share of legitimate heart-tugging moments, the narrative nevertheless feels somewhat overstuffed with subplots, underdeveloped character motivations and somewhat incomplete back stories. These shortcomings are compensated for somewhat by fine performances and gorgeous cinematography, but the balance of assets and drawbacks doesn’t quite even out to enable the picture live up to the brilliance it’s striving for. Ultimately, the core message of this story merits justified attention, but it’s unfortunate that it doesn’t quite receive the treatment it genuinely deserves to make that happen.… Expand

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robomartionJan 18, 2022

This is a very emotionally moving film with a well thought out script that brings together people of all backgrounds and sheds light on the injustice facing adopted immigrants in the USA. A few points are lost for Alicia Vikkander'sThis is a very emotionally moving film with a well thought out script that brings together people of all backgrounds and sheds light on the injustice facing adopted immigrants in the USA. A few points are lost for Alicia Vikkander's inconsistent accents (why not just cast an actual Floridian or at least American) although she does do a great job being vulnerable, and the at-times terrible camera work is blurry overblown, with flecks on the lens thanks to the new old trend of using film stock (just use a digital camera for crying out loud). Sydney Kowalske (the little girl) does an outstanding job and in some ways really carries the movie, though, Justin Chon is equally convincing and surprised me even more so when I found that he had written, acted and directed the movie. The way the movie ties together the bayou (swamp) with the character's history is very well done. If I didn't know better I would have thought the movie had been made by someone who had really gone through this ordeal. I am aware of the controversy surrounding the film, I think he should have involved Adam Crapser as the actor of the movie or at least in the writing or as an executive producer. But perhaps Chon did not trust anyone else in aligning with his vision. The music is very moving and all-in-all the movie will bring you tears and make you wish the world wasn't so unfair and stupid.… Expand

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aurora1May 27, 2022

Justin Chon did a great job at presenting the drama of thousands of children who aren't granted citizenship despite being adopted by American families, and because of that facing deportation. This is an aspect of being an illegal immigrant inJustin Chon did a great job at presenting the drama of thousands of children who aren't granted citizenship despite being adopted by American families, and because of that facing deportation. This is an aspect of being an illegal immigrant in Usa that is rarely told. If we want to find a fault, the movie is sometimes too heavy on melodrama, but this doesn't ruin the overall project, which is blessed with dignity. The call for boycott is absolutely ridiculous: this movie should have won an Oscar, not been boycotted! A special praise to the little Sydney Kowalske for her excellent acting, a crescendo of nuances up to the heart-wrecking ending scene.… Expand

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MarkTakayamaFeb 6, 2022

I love New Orleans. The bayou was so beautiful. I didn't know many people were deported. It was very informative.

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JLuis_001Oct 18, 2021

Blue Bayou is a film that walks between a very fine line that separates a narrative overload with sentimental manipulation, and this is because the subject lends itself to it, but at least the director and also protagonist, manages to keepBlue Bayou is a film that walks between a very fine line that separates a narrative overload with sentimental manipulation, and this is because the subject lends itself to it, but at least the director and also protagonist, manages to keep his story as a fairly firm critique of the US immigration system.

The message is important of course, but perhaps a more frank direction would've created more resonance.
I read some professional reviews that said the director could've used more subtlety, but the subject that he addresses doesn't need it.
You can't sugarcoat a theme like this one.

Alicia Vikander is excellent, and her work here deserves more attention. While Justin Chon shows that his career has improved a lot, especially for those who only know about him because of his diminutive participation in The Twilight Saga, and 21 & Over.

Give it a chance. It's not spectacular or anything like that, but it's far from being a bad movie.… Expand

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Mauro_LanariFeb 5, 2022

(Mauro Lanari)
The end does not justify the means and Justin Chon, in his fourth film as director and here also screenwriter and main interpreter, proves to be incapable: he does not make it clear where he wants to go before the help of the(Mauro Lanari)
The end does not justify the means and Justin Chon, in his fourth film as director and here also screenwriter and main interpreter, proves to be incapable: he does not make it clear where he wants to go before the help of the final captions, he does not decide between the relevance of a childhood trauma and the wrong choices made as an adult, that is, if the responsibilities are parental, personal, systemic, legislative, police, does not use different shots from the close-up (a male version of "La passion de Jeanne d'Arc"?), does not give space to the other protagonists, does not avoid abusing a depressing trumpet in the score, does not dodge the slipping into the melodramatic.… Expand

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DawdlingPoetAug 18, 2022

This is a decent character based drama but it is somewhat predictable, knowing the general story beforehand. I did think the protagonist (Antonio LeBlanc) seemed a decent likeable guy, which certainly helps and its not hard to feel frustratedThis is a decent character based drama but it is somewhat predictable, knowing the general story beforehand. I did think the protagonist (Antonio LeBlanc) seemed a decent likeable guy, which certainly helps and its not hard to feel frustrated for him when he clearly comes across discrimination based on his ethnicity (the obligatory potential employer asking him where he comes from - not the area he lives in but where he originally came from etc.). The depiction of his family life is decent but it felt a bit too much like a Hallmark movie by the end. There are numerous films that cover the same issues and its not a bad film, certainly, but it missed something - I'm not sure I could explain precisely what but its nearly quite good but just not quite. I did think it was interesting coming across the ICE person - being British, I wasn't aware of that particular acronym and its curious that the employee appears to be a semi-decent type, perhaps but yeah...its not quite as good as film as it maybe could have been. The cheesiness frustrated me somehow. No, I wouldn't particularly recommend this film as such.… Expand

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stanlainehardyFeb 25, 2022

This film is absolutely amazing. One of the best movies I watched this year. Give it a go, you won't regret it.

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