What's the big deal?

Rating: Null/10 (30 April 2003)

So after much fanfare, I finally got the chance to watch this movie last night. While there was nothing "wrong" with it, I'm still attempting to determine what was so amazing about it (my rating, FYI, was a 7). Trust me, I've been a fan of "independent" cinema for the past 15 years or so, and I've loved dark comedies for as long as I can remember, so I'm firmly within the intended audience of the movie. I just can't help but think (especially after viewing a fair amount of the deleted scenes) that the movie really could have benefitted from either developing some of its subplots (what's with the Donnie and Drew Barrymore thing?) further (or, in the alternative, eliminating them altogether). And I think that the performances were fine, but unremarkable. The movie is good, but massively overhyped/overrated by the underground set.