Haynes does it again!

Rating: 9/10 (12 November 1998)

I have to say that after "Safe" and now this... Todd Haynes is really on a roll. A total original.There's been a lot of "not for everyone" talk and I must say shouldn't we be GRATEFUL for that? This and "Safe" and "Poison" (haven't seen "Superstar" but would love to I could only find it!) they are all infuriating in some ways to some people but I, for one, am so relieved that there's no pandering to the audience. I like being challenged and seeing things in new ways. His non-linear and visual approach to storytelling worked for me.
Loved Toni Collette's performance (very Liza-esque in the early 70's scenes which was a nice touch) I heard some griping about her accent on the way out of the theater but I thought the wavering accent was part of the point of her character. American poseur with faux accent in early scenes -gradually gets more American as she retreats from the scene but because of the repeated jumping and flip flopping about in time -it could appear to some that she couldn't maintain the accent. I think I'm in love with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He floored me. My eyes were doing that heart thing his did onscreen.
My only gripe about the movie is that it seemed to have about 6 endings. The opening Oscar Wilde sequence was genius but it sort of spun loose at the end.