In a Word: Anticlimactic - SPOILERS

Rating: Null/10 (12 July 2004)

Best movie of the year? If there hadn't been all that hype, this movie would be decent. So many things about it made it undeserving of its accolades, and I can't understand why more people don't feel this way.
This movie was supposed to be a smart, feisty whodunnit. About twenty minutes into the movie, the body of Katie is found. As soon as the cops disclose the details of how she was murdered, it's ridiculously obvious who killed her. That completely killed the movie for me.
Secondly, there are no likable characters. Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, maybe... But not really.
Thirdly, Sean Penn is just being Sean Penn. Not much acting involved. Academy Award? I think not. Political statement? Absolutely.
Next, Sean Penn's wife has almost no development until she comes out of nowhere with this wacko speech at the end of the movie. Where did that come from? It made no sense.
Yet another thing... Kevin Bacon's storyline had no relevance to the movie whatsoever. Why did she leave? Why did she come back? Why did she leave when she was pregnant? And all of a sudden she comes back for no reason... and they go watch a parade??? Would you go watch a parade on the first day you've seen your missing wife in 6 months? YAWN!
Lastly, the reason the two boys killed Katie was boring and anticlimactic. Actually the whole movie is anticlimactic.
Watch this movie if someone puts a gun to your head and makes you. Otherwise, go rent the real Best Picture of the Year. Rotk.