POSITIVES:
1) The two central performances are brilliant. Spacey and Benning are both on top form here and play their parts perfectly. I also thought Wes Bentley from the supporting cast was a real standout too 2) The film certainly makes you think as a critique of the uninspired suburban lifestyle that so many of us fall in to. The bleak ending that the film has also makes it more poignant and powerful 3) Some of the imagery of this film has become iconic. The shots of Angela covered in the red rose petals is one of the most recognisable film images of the past few decades
NEGATIVES:
1) I just found a lot of the film to be quite plodding and meandering, with no real dramatic weight being pressed down on the characters to keep the plot moving along 2) I get that part of the point of this film is that all of the characters are a bit unhinged, but I really didn't get on board with the awkward dialogue and stunted line delivery that this film has at so many points 3) What was the purpose of Alison Janney's character? She contributes literally nothing to the story. You could've just had the father be widowed and it wouldn't have changed the film at all.
1) The two central performances are brilliant. Spacey and Benning are both on top form here and play their parts perfectly. I also thought Wes Bentley from the supporting cast was a real standout too 2) The film certainly makes you think as a critique of the uninspired suburban lifestyle that so many of us fall in to. The bleak ending that the film has also makes it more poignant and powerful 3) Some of the imagery of this film has become iconic. The shots of Angela covered in the red rose petals is one of the most recognisable film images of the past few decades
NEGATIVES:
1) I just found a lot of the film to be quite plodding and meandering, with no real dramatic weight being pressed down on the characters to keep the plot moving along 2) I get that part of the point of this film is that all of the characters are a bit unhinged, but I really didn't get on board with the awkward dialogue and stunted line delivery that this film has at so many points 3) What was the purpose of Alison Janney's character? She contributes literally nothing to the story. You could've just had the father be widowed and it wouldn't have changed the film at all.