TRL was more a haiku than a movie, and tried too hard to be "important."

Rating: Null/10 (25 January 1999)

This movie reminded me of nothing so much as viewing a painting in a museum or art gallery. Some people gasp at the brilliance, the sheer power. Others shrug, and either move on or loudly proclaim their disdain for the piece of unredeemable excrement they see on the wall.
To a degree, I can appreciate what the director was trying to do--and I thought the cinematography was great. But for me, TRL was trying far too hard to be "important." Self-conscious and pretentious are not descriptions I would disagree with.
As I left the theater after Saving Private Ryan, I remarked to my wife that as much as I liked the movie, I couldn't imagine what would compel me to see it again---simply because it was such a draining experience. I found an answer to that---being given a choice between viewing SPR again, or TRL.
But again, you like it, then great. For myself, after two and a half hours, I tired of watching a haiku and of waiting for a movie to appear, and left. I'd give it a 2 out of 10.