Amazing performances in a muddled script

Rating: 6/10 (18 October 2004)

I agree with all of the other reviews that the performances by Penn, Robbins, and Bacon (though especially Penn) were all terrific, and leant depth to characters that is hard to find in movies these days. It's that the plot doesn't make sense, and seems to tries to hard to deliver a "trick" ending. <> The motive for the brutal murder is brushed aside as an afterthought by Bacon's character ("Why'd they do it? We're not sure..."), as if that's not what the movie is about, after all. And I'd agree, as a character study, MR is amazing. As a movie that holds together, it's average.