One of the best motion pictures of 1999 and of the 90's

Rating: 10/10 (5 March 2001)

Sam Mende's directional debut is a touching work of art and Alan Ball's screenplay can be interpreted as a mixture between satire and drama, is an amalgam of recent years' independent screenplays portraying the American society like HAPPINESS and YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS, but the fundamental difference is its sense of class, charm and balance that lacked on the others. The entire cast devotes themselves to their roles and, while Annette Benning, Kevin Spacey, Chris Cooper and Allison Janney deliver superb performances, it's Wes Bentley who stands out with his speech about a flying bag. All of this, accompanied by Conrad Hall's cinematography and Thomas Newman's score, makes this experience an unforgettable one.