Cliché-ridden, ham-fisted, coma-inducing waste of time!!!

Rating: 2/10 (22 May 2006)

That Sean Penn won the Oscar for this overblown bore-fest is bad enough, but that it was over the truly great performance of Bill Murray in LOST IN TRANSLATION (a film that isn't a waste of time), makes it all the more painful. Penn has had some great acting moments (SWEET AND LOWDOWN for one), and so has Tim Robbins (THE PLAYER, SHORT CUTS and SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION for three), but the only worthwhile acting in this film belongs to the relative unknowns portraying the younger roles. Clint Eastwood is a talented director, who has contributed some great films (UNFORGIVEN is the top of it's genre, and BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY stomped any other pocketbook romance adaptation), but this is real amateur night. The script is an unrealistic (bad) joke. Penn's character looks like Michael Douglas' hit-man from ONE NIGHT AT MCCOOLS (not a serious film, but still leagues higher than M.R.), and acts like some by-the-numbers thug, complete with his own circle of goons, that do super-cool macho things like charging through police lines and ordering cops around. I recommend randomly standing in line instead of watching this drek (at least with standing in line you may get something worthwhile for your time). Congratulations Hollywood, you've out-lamed yourself yet again, pushing your credibility (hold the laughter please) even lower than previously thought possible. "Name" critics bought and paid for...thanks for your cooperation sellouts.