Repetitive, preachy, and self-important

Rating: 4/10 (18 June 2009)

Penn delivers another excellent performance although when I closed my eyes, the cadence of his words sounded disturbingly identical to his "I Am Sam" title character. Josh Brolin gives an excellent and nuanced supporting turn as the tortured soul that was Dan White. James Franco and Emile Hirsch lend solid support. But, the themes and the lessons are repeated over and over and over again. For me, there was a disproportionate amount of time dwelling on the lovemaking scenes in vivid detail to the detriment of the movie's pacing. Then when we finally get to 1978 and the unfolding of the events that led to WHite's psychotic break and horrific crime, they are thrown quickly at the audience as if they were a postscript to the proceedings. Victor Garber is given absolutely NOTHING to do as Moscone. FOr the most part, I spent a lot of time looking at my watch.