Migraine-inducing, nasty trash

Rating: 1/10 (30 July 2005)

I admit I only saw about the first 45 minutes; I just could not stand any more; this film was excruciating to watch. Worse by far than the nasty ''Adaptation.'' Probably second only to "Sweetie," another horrifying film billed as a comedy. How could Kate Winslet, after her terrific performance in ''Iris,'' have signed on for this trash? Did the filmmakers set out to induce headache and nausea? The story, the lighting, the camera-work, the editing--they really made me seasick. And it's hard to care about characters who don't like themselves enough to engage in basic grooming. What in the world was romantic about this story of abuse, alcoholism, relationship addiction, and depravity? There was no compassion for the obvious sickness of the characters. Uck, uck, uck. I wish I could erase the memory of this piece of pretentious, stomach-turning nonsense from my aching head.