Horribly disturbing, dreadfully brutal... amazing performances

Rating: 10/10 (11 July 2002)

This movie has really disturbed me. I just watched it last night and I woke up at 3:30 finding it difficult to fall back asleep; I could not get certain shocking scenes out of my mind.
The performances by Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Connelly were absolutely incredible. I thought that the scenes between Burstyn and Leto were done particularly well, as it would have been easy to fall into some mother/son cheesiness. That did not happen. It was refreshing to see Wayans and Leto deliver top notch performances in challenging roles.
This movie is the most disturbing and brutal film I have ever seen. I can't say that I liked it or didn't like it, it just was. But I can say that the writing, cinematography and acting were excellent. So, would I recommend it? Not without the caveat that the viewer will be turned inside out by this intense portrayal of human desperation.