Wonderful, annoying, original, impactful - simply beautiful film-making

Rating: Null/10 (8 September 2004)

This is a wonderful film on so many levels.
Thought-provoking, satirical, creative, beautifully-acted, well-scripted, stunning soundtrack, mood-making and yet with a really, really, really annoying storyline, trying so, so hard to be cutesy clever, literally frothing to put the P into Postmodern.
Yet I forgive it. Totally and utterly.
This is a refreshing take on the ubiquitous teen-movie and a dark, biting swipe at US suburban complacency.
And Jake Gyllenhal is simply incredible, wholly absorbing. A staggering presence. Awesome talent.
This is a riveting film all-round. A one-off.