Long, confusing film about the mind neither enlightens nor entertains

Rating: 3/10 (19 December 2001)

If Cameron Crowe had written this as an original screenplay, one could at least credit him with attempting a unique and personal vision. Knowing that the script is based on a previous film, one is left with little justification for its frustrating and ultimately pretentious muddle. The actors are all good -- Cruise unusually so -- but what are they doing in this long, complicated movie that actually becomes less interesting as it goes along? The entire, endless last forty minutes is spent explaining the rest of it, but in a way that's neither interesting nor satisfying. There are flashes of a much more compelling, daring, and provocative movie on occasion, but they go nowhere. One leaves the theater feeling disturbed, but for no gain.