Anthony B

Another example of a young director given too much rope (Babylon comes to mind) who makes a self indulgent mess that only serves to show up his own shortcomings. Let's get the "good" out of the way first: the slipping of notes under the door scene was very well done. That's it. Everything else was recycled pseudointellectual b.s. from other better films and film makers. One star for poor Mr. Phoenix, forced to play a character for three hours that never grows an inch. One star for miss Posey's assets- that was refreshing. Interminable.

Cinematically fascinating, technically awesome- where this film fails is in it's storytelling which is long, drawn out and, frankly IMO, totally unconvincing. Didn't believe the "love" story for a second- maybe I'm just not in tune with the culture. (Is she supposed to be beautiful- femme fatale beautiful? Is he even good looking? Beats me.) Overwrought ending. Still, foundationally, it has much to recommend it- inferior work from a superior filmmaker.

Really disappointing riff on "Witness for the Prosecution" has plot holes so big you could fit any number of overinflated egos through it. Festooned with red herrings and illogical, unexplainable behaviors, it ultimately defeats its viewers with an unreliable narrator leading the way. Hugh Grant, does manage to make his scenes watchable while Nicole Kidman (once a personal favorite) manages to elicit Mickey Rourkesgue winces as one tries to figure out exactly WHAT procedures she has endured. Not a cinematic moment in the whole mess. Television.