Family Strife in suburban America

Rating: 10/10 (13 July 2001)

This movie portrays the true nature of how money can overrun families while simultaneously painting the very real picture of suburban life. At times, one can find connections with F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The ending follows the end of Fitzgerald's novel, which may lead to a message the director was trying to get at through this piece of cinematic genius;money does not buy happiness.
The movie itself is able to capture the feeling of growing tension in the house. The use of the neighbor as an unopinionated observer, again a connection with The Great Gatsby, adds to the story because he provides a view from outside of the family looking in. This is craftily done and provides a unique and necessary point of view in order to give the story more depth.
All of this said, this movie is indeed a well crafted piece of cinema that we, the audience, rarily has the opportunity of seeing in this age of popular novel rip-offs.