a sometimes painfully slow movie

Rating: 8/10 (29 September 2001)

first things first - THIS is probably robert de niro's finest performance. the movie though did not win a single oscar, whch is a bit strange, esp. considering the kind of cult following it has AND the critical acclaim it has received.
i for one found the movie to be too slow nd meandering and very soft. i think the plot deserved a more hard-hitting script ... which shows the mental troubles of robert de niro in starker light. the movie failed to evoke much feeling in me, the characters felt too distant, i did not feel any pain or pleasure for any of the characters.
the dialogs in the movie though are outstanding and memorable. the movie is still definitely worth watching, just for the way it shows the decadent lonely mind at work, in its destructive frame. robert de niro showcases this mind in its stark naked self. however, one just wishes that the movie had a little more punch to it.
a moderate 7