Should be remembered at Oscar time

Rating: Null/10 (11 October 1999)

Disturbing, emotional, and all together fantastic. This is certainly one of the best films of 1999, a sleeper that roared at the box office.
I don't think I've ever seen a more difficult child's role tackled with incredible talent than that of Cole played by Haley Joel Osment. This kid deserves an Oscar. The movie as a whole should qualify in several other Oscar categories including best director, original screenplay, cinematography, and -- dare I say it -- best picture? I can't think of many other films this year that should qualify for best picture category.
I won't bother giving a run-down summary of the film as so many others have done that here, but instead say that this film is all the evidence one needs that the horror genre really deserves to be "rescued from the kiddies" (i.e. the 14-24 year old male demographic) with its reliance on cheap tricks, over-the-top effects, senseless violence and gore, and liberal use of mocking or brainless humor. Hopefully Hollywood will pick up the clue-phone. It's been ringing a long time.