How did this win two Oscars?

Rating: 1/10 (6 January 2007)

Just watched this movie with three other people, and after watching the draggy, cliché-laden first 30 minutes, we checked online and were shocked to see generally positive reviews. The movie did pick up a bit, but overall was a complete waste of time. Unsatisfying as a whodunit, and lots of bad acting. Overall, the amount of Oscars won and nominations received is totally shocking, based on how unentertaining and flat the movie is. The whole first hour we couldn't help remarking on how plot elements which are usually alluded to through subtle devices were revealed clunkily in the dialogue, which seemed like a rough draft of a treatment rather than a final Hollywood script. And the music? It was no surprise to see at the end that Clint Eastwood wrote it. And did it really have to be 137 minutes long? I'm sure at least 20 minutes - or maybe all 137 - could have been cut with no loss at all.