A minor masterpiece of cinema

Rating: 9/10 (25 March 2018)

I first saw this film during its original 1999 theatrical release. I was impressed with the over all brutal honesty and realism of the film, excellent, intelligent, insightful, perceptive, sensitive writing and directing, but felt a little disappointed by the surprise ending also done with sentimentality. I see this film differently now. The ending is the weakest part of this otherwise excellent film. My review changed from very good to excellent.