Greatest commercial movie of all time

Rating: 10/10 (18 August 2005)

A gorgeous production from beginning to end. Mike Nichols and Buck Henry managed to capture the spirit and the humor of the original text while paring it down to a commercially viable two hours. If they had followed the text to full length, then it might have been the greatest movie ever made.
But some people have a hard time with it because it is non-linear; well, it can be confusing to bounce back and forth in time, but great films aren't necessarily easy. This is one of those films that grew on me with repeat viewings, as I became better able to pick out the finer points from the rush of dialog and imagery.
Also, some people don't appreciate black comedy. It's difficult to comprehend exactly how insane our society is. It's difficult to accept that we can be the bad guys. In fact, many times we are and just can't accept it psychologically. There's a natural tendency in human beings to trust in authority, to believe that the ideals ensconced in our culture (such as the Golden Rule) are held dear by all. However dear children, the guys at the top do not feel constrained by general norms of decency or even pieces of paper like the constitution. For those who are not well aware of how propaganda is used to control us, I suggest checking out Plato's allegory of the cave (it's in The Republic).
Anyway, back to the movie! Lots of nuggets are there to pick out: social commentary, subtle plot design, site gags, a lovely homage to Fellini. If you have seen it and did not much care for it, I suggest A) you read the book if you haven't already and B) see it a few more times!