Extraordinarily well-executed flawed film

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2004)

This movie will probably garner Oscar nominations for cinematography and adaptation from another medium, because the script is excellent and the settings spectacular.
Renee Zellweger, happening onscreen after about a third of the movie is over, absolutely takes it over and is superb without qualification. She may well get a nomination and win an award for supporting actress. The movie has an enormous amount going for it.
But somehow it all falls a little flat. As is the case with Oakland, there's no "there, there." The picaresque journey of the male character is fine, but one is still wanting something, well, more.
Bottom line, I (who enjoyed thoroughly the end-western-shows of Clint Eastwood) actually did yawn during parts of this movie.
Sorry, all. But give Renee her Oscar.