This film never lost my interest in its 2 1/2 hour running time, but neither did it rivet me. It is sort of like skipping from peak to peak over a mountain range without ever quite understanding the valleys in between. A succession of quirky characters parade across the screen in memorable scenes, played by excellent actors, but the whole story is sacrificed to individual moments. As the private detective at the center of the goings-on, Phoenix gives a likable, low-key performance that holds things together. Brolin is effective as his nemesis, a loner detective, whose motivations are never quite made clear. Waterston is is Phoenix's ex-girlfriend, now at the heart of the disappearance of a real estate developer, and her performance is memorable for one scene at least--and you can guess which one. The settings and cinematography and pacing of the film are good as well, as one would expect from this director, but it is easy to see why this one didn't make any money to speak of. I do love all the character names, however. ( )

A stoner detective stumbles into a conspiracy.

A two-and-a-half-hour stoner movie, with a story so convoluted, I don't think it's possible to make sense out of it. I guess it's supposed to be like a paranoid drug trip? Why do I want to watch that? I get the distinct impression that this is one of those books that cannot possibly be made into a movie.

Concept: D
Story: D
Characters: D
Dialog: B
Pacing: D
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: A

Enjoyment: D

GPA: 2.1/4 ( )

excellent adaptation by a master, PTA ( )