Wow

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2000)

What else can be said about this truly stunning piece of film making. I remember leaving the theatre after viewing the film and "wow" was the most original thing I could come up with to describe my thoughts and feelings about this movie. I was blown away. So blown away that it is impossible to put it into words.
When I first heard about this movie, I will admit, I had no desire to see it. However, with the high accolades it received at the Oscars, I figured the film had to be about more than a 40-something guy who falls for a teenage girl. And it was.
This is the type of movie that requires several viewings - and on each subsequent viewing, you will surely see something that you hadn't noticed the first time. The signature of a truly great and thought provoking film. It is almost impossible to view this film without seeing something of yourself in one or more of the characters. I surely did (although I won't mention which one), and it is a real eye opener and often not flattering to see "yourself" and "your life" portrayed on screen in such a way. Albeit, it may be taken to the extreme, but the effect is there.

The stunning performances by the entire cast were truly the focal point of this character driven movie - with Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening deserving the accolades and awards bestowed on them. I could have done without Mena Suvari as I found her character to be quite irritating, but I suspect that this was the intention.
It still amazes me that there are so many negative comments about this movie - I personally know several people who thought it was the dumbest movie they ever saw. My only comment for this small percentage of the viewing population is that you just didn't get it. Perhaps, it just hit a little too close to home and that admitting that it was a wonderful film would be admitting that you saw a little of yourselves in this film and didn't like what you saw.
This is a movie about everyone's search for beauty in their own lives and how beauty can mean so many different things to so many different people. It is deep, thought provoking and goes far beyond what you actually see on the screen. See it if you want to change your outlook on life - it will help you see beauty in even the simplest of things and in your quest for beauty in your own life.
A masterpiece!