Funny and heart-breaking tragicomedy of '90s America.

Rating: 9/10 (18 November 1999)

I was somewhat surprised that this film is ranked #1. I don't think it's THAT good, but certainly one of the best film of this year. However, it does fall shy of last year's HAPPINESS, which it resembles in some ways. The lead acting by Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening is nothing short of perfect, as are the supporting roles. Spacey plays a burned out yuppie, strangely remniscient of the Edward Norton character in FIGHT CLUB, who's tired of his job, his wife, and his life. That is until he meets his daughter's pretty Lolita-like friend. Bening is a real estate agent who will do almost anything to get ahead. There are also some strange neighbors who move in next door. These plot threads overlap and intersect each other, leading to the inevitable conclusion. This film is a remarkable achievement in part because the writer and director are both making their debuts here, and it's possible they might walk off with Oscars in March. This film is not for all tastes, though, but most good movies nowadays aren't.