Alternate Endings in Test Markets?

Rating: 5/10 (25 November 2007)

I feel totally duped by The NY Times. Not that critics' reviews are the only reason we see movies, but usually when they're overwhelmingly positive, the film won't be a waste of time. The Times, which is usually pretty good, gave this a great review.
What were they watching? I wonder if Miramax test marketed movies with different endings in different markets, and we got this asinine crap-for-ending down in NC? (not really, but that would explain a lot).
This movie deserves less than a 5, but the first two thirds of the film were so good, and Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem so riveting, well, it wouldn't be fair. Woody Harrelson is unnecessary and miscast in this movie. But the real thumbed nose is Carla Jean's mother, played by an actress in an old lady wig and terrible southern accent. What an insult. And what a waste of what could have been a fantastic movie.