GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

leplatypus Well, i should try for a spot of Hollywood screenwriter, as this movie is just full of absurdities that it's hard to believe that people believe in it. To put it simply, a clean and young graduate is anxious with his future. So far, it's OK as classic did it before ("the graduate" for example). To bite the life, he hangs up with a free couple during his summer break. Still nothing to blame as this age is indeed for this kind of experience. But, then, crash: the father is Pittsburg's Maffia Don: Why ?? Is it again the problem to be respectable? In all cases, Nolte is a poor godfather and all the clichés are abused. Worst, this triangular friendship evolves not into a threesome but in another homosexuality struck! Even if he "does" Sienna, he finally discovers that he prefers his boyfriend and ready to live as a couple of thugs!!! Well, all this homo silly stories by straight people is like having a debate about feminism with only men: it's just unbelievable. However, Sarsgaard is always good for this misfit character and Sienna is sympathetic with her gentle, soft, smiling spirit. And it was good to come back to Pittsburg and unlike "Flashdance", this time we have a taste of its rural beauty.

jlongstreth-1 I loved the novel Mysteries of Pittsburgh. It took place in familiar surroundings, places I hung out, in a town I loved. It questioned mysteries that I'd questioned myself.It's not certain if the passage of time or the changes wrought in adaptation brought about my dislike for this movie. After all, I first read the book some 25 years ago. But the film lacks so much in comparison with the book. It has none of the humor, none of the introspection, none of the sense of resolution or at least readiness at the end.The acting does not help the situation, especially Sienna Miller, who as Jane, is basically a flat line. Art is nearly a flat line, strangely enough; as the lead he is not supposed to be. Sarsgaard's Cleveland attempts to compensate for the affectless performance of his screen-mates by wildly over-emoting. It's a valiant effort that almost works. And Mena Suvari is just pitiful as a sad stereotype that no woman with a shred of self-respect should ever have to play on screen or stage.I'm sure it doesn't help my assessment that Chabon is one of my favorite writers and Pittsburgh is my beloved home city. But if I were you, I'd give this one a miss. The four stars are for cinematography Nick Nolte, and music, which were decent.

chatfieldbatham This was a beautiful but ultimately confusing film.There is an impressive cast of photogenic and talented actors, but the editing seems to have left parts of the story, which would explain its progression, out.As a result, the story of the 'last' summer for the character played by Foster, it is only partly believable, and the poignancy that one can sense was aimed at, is missed.There is good acting by the main actors, but the lines provided and the editing leave a lot to be desired.It is worth seeing, but ultimately leads to a mix of emotions at the end, and not ones intended by the director.

dbborroughs Young man with a gangster for a father is studying for the exams to become a stock broker. He doesn't really want to go in that direction but that's the direction that his father has picked out for him (he's arranged a job for him once he finishes). Desperate to have his own life he has taken a dead end job at a local book supermarket just to have time for himself before his life stops being his own. After almost being run over by his college roommate he ends up at a party where he ends up meeting a beautiful blonde, who along with her boyfriend ends up changing his life.This is a well acted, except by Nick Nolte, story based on a book by Michael Chabon. Its much better than its soiled reputation would indicate. The film is infamous for being the film Sienna Miller took simply to get away from the paparazzi, she got into even more trouble by bashing Pittsburgh in several off handed comments. It was then barely released to theaters before being dumped on to DVD. This is a good little film. I liked it. My only real complaint outside of Nick Nolte's performance (it just doesn't work here) is that the film is trying way too hard to be quirky. Its not bad, but there are these small turns and asides (Joe Namath's picture during a sex scene) that didn't really need to be there. I'm sure they were in the novel, but at the same time in the real world of the film they come across as out of place. Worth a look, probably on cable.