Bliss

Rating: Null/10 (5 April 1999)

I've seen over 1,600 films in my life. This one was the most fun.
Everything was just right: acting, photography, music, writing. Forget all that, though. "Jerry Maguire" glowed, and emanated warmth and laughter. It's a terrific satire of the unknown industry of sports agents and sports marketing. Many classic (and I try not to use that word) scenes abound: Cuba Gooding Jr.'s first phone conversation with Cruise; the entire first date between Cruise and Renee Zellweger; the eight-year old Lipnicki whose precociousness is for once appropriate and not annoying; the climactic football game and the reactions of peripheral characters. The Academy Awards screwed up again in 1996, snubbing this film for its Screenplay (I'll be honest--fun aside, "Fargo" should have gotten Picture and Director) and for Cruise's dynamic performance.