Excellent but short of GREAT

Rating: 9/10 (20 March 2008)

I did really think this was an exceedingly good film, but I am thrown by all the "best movie this year" comments. I was basically moved by it, but this was a great year for movies and I can name five movies, two of them nominees, which I considered better.
I don't want to waste time nitpicking though. There was a whole lot going for this, especially in the technical fields. The music was arguably the best of the year, and this included the sound of the typewriter. The sets, costumes, and cinematography were all splendid. And I was under the movie's spell much of the time. And yet there were times when I felt detached and uninvolved. Not often, but often enough that I can't call this perfect and flawless. Damn good is about the most I can say about it.