Review: 2002 's first great film 
Sentiment: positive

Review: writer/director alexander payne ( election ) and his co-writer jim taylor brilliantly employ their quirky and fearless ability to look american angst in the eye and end up laughing . 
Sentiment: positive

Review: an intelligently made ( and beautifully edited ) picture that at the very least has a spark of life to it -- more than you can say for plenty of movies that flow through the hollywood pipeline without a hitch . 
Sentiment: positive

Review: what 's missing in murder by numbers 
Sentiment: negative


Review: the film flat lines when it should peak and is more missed opportunity and trifle than dark , decadent truffle .