Not much happens until preposterous ending (5 out of 10)

Rating: 5/10 (17 October 2003)

The mood is dark, somber. The acting is dull, lifeless. The story is complex, convoluted. The ending is, quite simply, preposterous.
I don't understand the heaps of praise being bestowed on this ordinary film.
Outside of an understated performance by Kevin Bacon, and some real acting by Marcia Gay Harden, there's nothing special delivered from a usually talented cast. (Laurence Fishburne is particularly grating as a detective in caricature -- especially the name "Whitey" and the ever-changing accent.)
For those of you giving this mishmash a 10, stop and think about the ending -- is it in any way plausible? No, not at all.