Bring your imagination, intellect and your sense of wonder to this film, along with a date.

Rating: 9/10 (14 December 2001)

Bring your imagination, intellect and your sense of wonder to this film, along with a date if someone's handy. You will need all four  the latter critical to talk through your impressions and the film's possibilities over a nice café mocha after the show.
It's not another date movie of the kind Hollywood routinely churns out. There's a lot to like about this movie. It demands to be watched "Closely!" Open your eyes . . . (where'd I here that?) Now there's nothing wrong with shallow fare like say 'Something about Mary' and 'Shallow Hal'. To all flicks, a purpose. Those are frolicks. This one is more akin to philosophical lecture, where the professor insists you learn by immersing yourself in the experience. Each has entertainment value. This one simply demands your full attention to Get It.
The only hokey thing about the movie is the Cameron-Cameron / Cruise-Cruz thing. That aside, it blazes bravely into Kubrickian surrealistic territory, a risky departure from the entertaining, mainstream achievements of Mr. Crowe to date . . . Virtually anything he slaps up on the screen will attract an audience by reputation and prior achievements. Know that this one is a journey worth taking, if you bring at least 3 of the 4 elements first noted above.
Criticism: It could easily have been clipped 20 minutes and retain every bit of its storyline, character development and film personality. I suppose with three blockbuster successes decorating his resume, Cameron (Crowe) likely earned his editorial license. Length mattered. Why not 120 minutes now; and 150 on the redux 20 years hence, like Coppola did it. This film will become a classic. Whether 120 or 150, I liked them all. Check it out.