Passed up a great ending. Good work by actors.

Rating: 7/10 (2 July 2001)

I liked this movie more than I thought I would. Al Pacino attacked this role with gusto bordering on glee. Keanu Reeves wasn't THAT bad. And at least the characters made some attempt at a proper accent, instead of just pretending that everyone sounds like L.A. But some really great work also came from Charlize Theron, who I've heard of, but not seen before, and Connie Nielsen, who really burned up the screen. Judith Ivey deserves mention, also. SEMI-SPOILER AHEAD: I thought that the movie would have been MUCH better if director Taylor Hackford would have ended the movie at the end of the penthouse scene, rather than adding that last part. It would have been unexpected and powerful. The last scene had commercialism plastered all over it. It cost the film one point in my rating. Grade: B