The word "overrated" was created for this pile of trash

Rating: 4/10 (19 December 2003)

I had big expectations for this film because of all the Oscars and hype, and when I finally saw it, man, did it dissapoint. From point A to Z this film is a failure. From the hideous wannabe hip dialogue to the use of every 90's cliche in existence. Oh, in the 90's EVERY high school kid smokes pot. In the 90's, EVERY gay couple are inherently the nicest people on the block. In the 90's, every suburbian family are hiding dark secrets behind the facade of normality. I could continue but I won't. Hmm, didn't we see that in "Happiness" and other films? We don't need another forcefull presentation of this messege.
I just loved how the character Ricky was such a 90's reinessance man (not to mention nearly the exact same character as Jude Law's in Mendes' follow crap "Road to Perdition")! Not only a high school student and deep philosopher who appreciates the beauty in grocery bags, he also has time to be an amatuer videographer, caterer, successful drug dealer with a long list of clients, voyuer, and an ex-mental patient. Darn, kids in the 90's sure know how to multitask! What a charming lad! GAG!
Now, on to the performances. While Kevin Spacey was mostly believable throughout, not a single other actor was. Particularly embarrassing was Annette Bening's spaztic, inapropriately overdramatic and totally unbelievable performance. Even the normally brilliant Chris Cooper failed to deliver the goods in his most dramatic scenes. And don't get me started on the teenage actors, who further rob the already DOA dialogue of any shred of credibility or sincerity.
Dramaticly, it was boring and devoid of life. No character ever has any realistic motivation to do anything interesting. The extended and stupid fantasy scenes were meaningless and far too numerous. Oh, and just by chance, Chris Cooper and Annette were planning to kill Kevin with the exact same brand of gun.
What makes it all the worse are the special features on the DVD in which the producers talk about how this was the best screenplay they'd ever read and crap like that. How could they be so dumb? Are they illiterate? The dialogue was just HIDEOUS! How could this crap get so much critical praise? It's baffling, seriously. It's just representive of how artisticly vacant modern Hollywood is. Want further proof? The very next year, "Gladiator" wins best picture.