It is a pleasure to watch such good actors. One critic had dissed a Keener stage performance as "just being herself"---- well which is that, the dominatrix of "Malkovich," the writer in "Capote," or the character in this film? Utter transformation. And Anne Heche, in "Wild Side," the mad woman in "I Know what you did last summer," (Possible spoiler): Ebert's reviews are usually so right on, I wonder how he gets some descriptive things wrong. She doesn't date her patient (which would be a grossly unethical act not in keeping with her character) but goes to see the waiter/actor's performance.
While it might seem that the characters are spiritually bereft, the film does focus on everyday life, "walking and talking" and the vicissitudes of late 20's-early 30's finding their place in life. Perhaps some of the pleasure I took in this film has to do with the familiarity of relational themes of those years, as well as the setting which is mostly within 3-4 blocks of my home (the video store, alas, is gone now).
While it might seem that the characters are spiritually bereft, the film does focus on everyday life, "walking and talking" and the vicissitudes of late 20's-early 30's finding their place in life. Perhaps some of the pleasure I took in this film has to do with the familiarity of relational themes of those years, as well as the setting which is mostly within 3-4 blocks of my home (the video store, alas, is gone now).