this film has a bloated sense of self importance...

Rating: 1/10 (23 May 2004)

Much like the main character played by Penn. I am so irritated recently by Penn and his desire to play characters with depth, to demonstrate he's a good actor who won't take parts for money or something. Get over yourself already!!!
This film had me excited, the high praise made me think it was a masterpiece.
I was disappointed. Oh it tries too hard to be meaningful. Really is it a murder mystery with self righteous overtones.
Actually as a murder mystery it was quite entertaining but really it was building towards a profound ending. That on reflection wasn't very profound at all.
I'm pretty certain that a film doesn't have to be entertaining as far as Penn is concerned. Yet no matter how meaningful a film tries to be the medium is not suited to this purpose. Read a book methinks. A film is the wrong viechle, so why bother to make it in the first place? One suspects it is probably so everyone can pat themselves on the back and feel superior. I thought it was a slightly patronising and long lecture of a movie.
I don't want to be preached to when I watch a movie and that's how I felt this film ultimately came across