Some things which I cannot believe

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2000)

First, that this film is in the Top #250.
Second, that this film is viewed as ground breaking in any significant way.
Third, that the US film industry is so devoid of truly good films that this film would be so well-received by American audiences.
****
Regarding my first statement of disbelief, great works like "Bronenosets Potyomkin" and "Rashomon" are relegated to lower portions of the Top #250 and other greats, for vastly divergent reasons, like "Horí, má panenko," "Bittere Ernte," "Mephisto" and "Le salaire de la peur" aren't even among the Top #250. How can this film, which breaks precious new ground be classed above the first two films, which have been monumentally important for the development of cinema throughout the whole world? How can this film be called a great social critique when compared to "Horí, má panenko" and "Mephisto"? How can it compare to the study of deeply flawed characters found in films like "Bittere Ernte" and "Le salaire de la peur"? The answer to all three questions is that it recall can't.
Regarding my second point, how is this film ground breaking, cutting edge, whatever? Movies from music video directors aren't that rare. Obsession with celebrity and the horrors wrought by greed are topics that have been covered extensively in the last fifty years. Heck, even issues of sexual identity have been covered much better than this. Perhaps the only thing that is truly cutting edge in this movie is the fact that it manages to incorporate so many ideas, and yet never really fully nurture any of them. Instead, it just rushes away on the next interesting point.
Regarding my final point, what have these people been watching? I regularly watch old and new imports from around the world and a whole heckuva lot of them are much better than this. Do these people watch nothing but cynical American TV shows and movies where people don't care at all for each other or anyone (Just like this movie. You doubt me? Well, then why are Orson Bean and crew not debating the moral ramifications of ramming themselves into another man's head for the rest of his life?")?
Regardless of these criticisms, it remains a good movie (7/10), but is definitely not Top 250 material.