Come on Folks!

Rating: 1/10 (7 April 2000)

In a year that brought us such magnificent films as "The Straight Story," "Topsy Turvy," "Being John Malkovich," "The Insider," "The Sixth Sense," and "Boys Don't Cry," why... WHY did this sensationalist piece of garbage receive such adoration? I shall take that question with me to my grave.

Although I will admit to finding the film's performances impressive, I make no apologies for saying that Kevin Spacey did not deserve to win best actor by a longshot. Both Denzel Washington and (especially) Richard Farnsworth gave performances of far greater depth and difficulty, and I can only thank the rising sun in the East that Anette Benning did not garner a best actress nod for her performance.
Everyone talks about how "deep" and "profound" this film was in exploring the hollowness of American materialism, but in truth all themes covered in this picture have been explored time and time again. For a fine example of this check out 1997's film "Happiness," that though disturbing, sheds away from Beauty's gratuitous excess.
Years from now, people will wonder what all of this film's hype was about as it will not stand the test of time.