HOLLYWOOD MOVIE POSING AS AN ARTHOUSE FILM

Rating: Null/10 (22 June 2003)

This movie cost 15 Million dollars to make. That's a lot of money. It cost 15 Million dollars to tell you the ending of the movie in the first 30 seconds then during the course of the movie do nothing other than copy better films (i.e. Happiness) only in a much more dumbed-down, audience-friendly fassion. This is really not even a film... it's a movie. It's a movie that leaves little thought to the audience.

Who do you like? The happy witty handsome star of 10 other movies you liked? Or that guy who looks tired and creepy all the time who's mean to his son. The characters are painfully 1-dimension in that everyone who you like, you like all the way through the movie, and everyone you don't like... well, they never show you the good sides to that person. It's a very black and white MOVIE, that doesn't test, entice, or allow the audience a single moment to think for themselves. If you watch it you will even see that the music is finely tuned into swaying your opinion as to who you like and dont. Almost everytime you see the creepy nazi-dad next door the soundtrack is silent. Whenever you see Kevin Spacey, its some good old foot tapping song from the 70's. Total manipulation. And all of America bought into it. Go watch something good, like Happiness, In The Company Of Men, Million Dollar Hotel, or... um... Chairman of the Board for God's sake. Anything.