Watch Bright Angel

Set against the backdrop of the American West, the movie Bright Angel tells the story of George and Lucy, two young adults who are struggling to find their place in the world. George, played by Dermot Mulroney, is a restless teenage boy who lives in a small town in Arizona. He's dropped out of high school and spends his days working at a gas station, dreaming of something more. When his father dies suddenly, George feels even more adrift, and he decides to take off for the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Along the way, George meets Lucy, played by Lili Taylor, a girl who is also on the run from her troubled past. Lucy is a bit of a wild card, self-destructive and unpredictable, but George is drawn to her nonetheless. The two form a bond as they travel through the desert together, with George hoping to help Lucy find some measure of peace.

As they journey deeper into the West, they encounter a variety of colorful characters, including a group of drifters, a desperate mother and son, and a grizzled old rancher played by Sam Shepard. Each encounter adds to the sense of isolation and desperation that permeates the film, as George and Lucy struggle to find their footing in a world that seems to have no place for them.

With its moody, atmospheric cinematography and haunting score, Bright Angel is a dark, brooding film that explores themes of loneliness, alienation, and the search for connection. The vast, empty landscapes of the West serve as a kind of metaphor for the characters' inner lives, as they wander through a landscape that seems both beautiful and barren.

Mulroney and Taylor deliver standout performances as George and Lucy, bringing a raw, emotional intensity to their roles. Their chemistry is palpable, and their troubled, complicated characters are by turns frustrating, endearing, and heartbreaking.

But perhaps the film's greatest strength is its nuanced portrayal of the West itself. From the neon lights of Las Vegas to the dusty backroads of small-town Arizona, the film captures the unique feel of this part of the country, with its mix of grit, beauty, and danger. The landscape becomes a character in its own right, exerting a powerful influence over the characters as they struggle to navigate its rocky terrain.

Ultimately, Bright Angel is a movie about the search for meaning, a coming-of-age story that offers no easy answers. It's a film that captures the restless, yearning spirit of youth, as well as the darker undercurrents that swirl beneath the surface of even the most mundane of lives. Despite its bleak subject matter, however, the film is ultimately hopeful, reminding us that even in the midst of despair, there is always the possibility of connection and redemption.

Bright Angel is a 1991 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.