Good, worth watching, but overrated

Rating: 5/10 (8 March 2002)

This is a good film. I'd recommend it to any movie fan as a worthwhile way to spend a couple hours. Some of the scenes between Willis' character and the boy are touching. Like everyone else I was caught off-guard by the twist ending.
But does this movie deserve to be anywhere near the top 50 all-time as the voters on this site have rated it? Nuh-uh. As nice a thriller as this is, it's got too much of the "Hollywood" feel to it, and the twist-ending becomes gimmicky after a first viewing. We already KNOW what's going to happen, so we'd better darn well find out what other merits this movie brings. (After a first viewing, I thought it was neat but I didn't see what all the hype was about. After a second viewing, to see what I may have missed, I still don't get it.) And I just don't see what this movie has that is going to give it staying-power. Will it stand out in 20 years the way that _The Shining_ still stands out today? Don't think so.
Of all the movies to get the Best Picture Oscar nomination in 1999, this is the least impressive of the bunch. Surely there were plenty of other movies that year that will outlast this one in terms of lasting contribution to cinema.
8 out of 10 for a first-time viewing, and a loss of a point for each viewing after that.