I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.