unexpected....

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2001)

Not having seen the Spanish-language version of this may have helped me enjoy it more -- I've heard people who have seen the original say Crowe's film is a letdown. But I really loved it: is this a cautionary tale? A story about the irony of having it all but not being able to (literally) save face? A thriller? A revenge tale? The story encompasses all of these things. The sci-fi stuff at the end while not that original was nicely brought back in (PAY ATTENTION to Benny the Dog! What I thought at first was just scene filler or fluff came back into the story in a big way!). I guess watching this post 9-11-01 had something to do with my reaction to the ending. How was Cameron Crowe to know what horrible events would happen while he was making this?
SPOILERS?
I have two small gripes: Great soundtrack, and I like Peter Gabriel's music, but please, please turn it off so I can concentrate on the dialogue. Also, the expository scene where half the movie explained away is a bit annoying, but maybe Crowe felt it necessary for Ma and Pa Briggs in the Hinterlands so they could understand the movie. Still, I'm willing to forgive Crowe these mistakes because the sum is so much greater than the individual parts.
One of the most uniquely satisfying films of 2001 along with David Lynch's MULHOLLAND DRIVE and Kubrick/Spielberg's A.I.
Go see it.