I hae an alternate title...

Rating: 10/10 (13 August 2001)

*Spoilers, so stop reading now* *No, I mean it, there is a major spoiler coming, so don't get mad at me if you keep reading* How about "A Farewell to Arm?" Har har har yuk yuk. OK bad joke. But come on, I would have enjoyed at least ONE light moment during this depressing work of art. Movies were originally, (and for the most part, still are) intended to give the audience a couple hours of entertaining relief from reality. Not so here, you are forced to sit through four gritty, ugly and depressing stories. You paid $8 for light-hearted escapism? Sucker! You get the reality you hate hearing about in the news thrown right in your face. This movie was never intended for the mainstream audience. So sorry dear reader, no John Williams score to lift your soul, no Julia Roberts enchanting the viewer, no Bruce Willis shooting the bad guys from the hip while making witty remarks, and most of all NO humor and NO happy ending.
Shown over the course of three seasons, it starts off in summer, things are generally looking up, but it is already the peak of the roller coaster. Whoa, just like the one shown at Coney Island! *that's deep* It doesn't take long for things to go downhill, and at an ever increasing rate. Finally, the climax shows all hell breaking loose, with quick cutting clips from one story to the next. Faster and faster we go but not as fast as a MTV video. The major characters are all wonderful, especially Burstyn. And major shocker here, who knew that a Wayan's brother would choose to be a in GOOD film, and not suck in it?
Great film, but put away any sharp objects when you watch.