Screenplay of the Decade

Rating: 10/10 (7 December 1998)

The acting in the movie was nearly perfect, especially with respect to the trio of cops the film centers around. The only reason I can see for the Oscar snub was that it was difficult to choose between them. Spacey was awesome as he always is, but my choice would have been Crowe by a nose. But, what really sets this movie apart is the screenplay. The dialogue is realistic and appropriate for the time. The pacing is perfect, a rare feat for a movie significantly over two hours. And the plot is intricate, yet decipherable if the viewer pays attention. The audience is not insulted with constant explanations and pointers to the key moments, but the audience is also not confused by screenplay that loses itself in its own attempts to remain interesting and suspenseful. The story unfolds like a perfect novel. This is definitely the screenplay of the 90's, if not the film of the 90's. Handing Cameron the Oscar for his over-budgeted, self-indulgent, poorly-acted waste of a good three hours was the crime of the 90's.