Poetic, gorgeous film

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 1999)

Has Kevin Spacey ever been in a real dog film? If so - this one will compensate for any follies he may have encountered in the past. Truly a magnificent film with sensitivity, and the unwillingness to fall back on the lowest common denominator, both in terms of sexuality, humour, cinematography. A great ensemble cast (which belies the Mendes' stage directorial background), all with believable performances, every one of them complex, intricate, and at all time hilarious, which sets it apart from the norm. What would have been an easy out, as a straight drama, is transcendent. This film works on many levels, with self-examination both on the part of the characters, as well as the film on itself