Smart; faithful to the book

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2006)

This movie cemented my opinion of John Cusack as a favorite and an excellent actor who seemed to always pick great material (he hasn't been so picky lately). As with all really good movies all the characters were interests and well acted: Jack Black in an early Jack Black imitation; Iben Hjelje as the only truly together person in the whole film; Tim Robbins playing a parody and being hilariously assaulted in a great replay scene.
I read the book afterwards and while the Cusack character isn't quite as likable in the book (he's just slightly more of a jerk at times), he's caught almost perfectly and the original sense of the book comes through: the transfer of the plot from England to the U.S. does no damage.
Loved it.