garbage

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 2002)

Its too bad this film has such a loyal fanbase right now, because it is a complete waste of time and film. This film was made to appeal to the Academy, but actually had nothing special in it except for maybe its budget. Russell Crowe is terrible, and I don't know when everyone will realize it. He can play one character and one character only, that being the smart-alec dead-pan monotone type. I liked him in The Insider because that was the first movie I saw him in. His acting style suited the part very well. Then I saw Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind and realized how bad he actually is. His characters are all the same and never allow the audience to see any emotion, and don't allow us to buy into his characters' motivations. Russell Crowe wasn't the only terrible one however. I don't think a single character was likable or even remotely interesting. This film is just another example of a good plot that was ruined by the actors and director. Its too bad the Academy only focuses on domestic gross and a movie's ability to look "cool". Only redeeming factor in this movie was that it could hold the viewer's attention, thus I give it a 3/10