Dumb, obvious

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 2001)

I don't know why I got sucked into this movie. From the first few minutes I knew the entire plot and ending. I also found Winona Ryder to be increasingly more irritating. She is not that talented and she isn't even cute any longer.
The dramatic twists in this movie are so obvious you would have to be a complete moron to not see them coming.
Mostly, Winona Ryder's character doesn't seem all that mentally sick. Maybe in the 60s being depressed and wanting to die were grounds for instituionalization. But today - hell, half the people I know are like Ryder's character Susanna. Who the hell is happy with their life? Susanna just isn't a convincing patient. She doesn't seem all that sick and her hospital doesn't seem all that horrible. Hell, that hospital looked downright plush. Who wouldn't want to stay there?
Moreover, there is very little discussion of why Susanna is sick? Oh sure, she tried to kill herself - but so what. What about her parents, her life, her issues. All of this is glossed over so we can watch Angelina Jolie scream and say dirty words.
However, I must admit, I was taken with Angelina Jolie's performance. I don't know if it was Oscar-worthy, but it was very good. She embodied that character very well. Although, as others have suggested, it isn't difficult for Angelina Jolie to play a bad girl. She obviously is a bit of a brat in real life.
Its worth seeing for free or on a $1.50 rental. Don't pay full price for it.