I loved this movie when I first saw it. I could see why people were criticising its similarity to movies like Goodfellas and Boogie Nights etc, but there were still plenty of moments where the movie came into its own. I still pretty much feel this way about it, it’s one of those movies that easily makes up for any failings it might have with a handful of simply beautiful scenes or sequences. I love how the look of the film, the colour and everything, develops over the course of the movie.

Johnny Depp is good … not one of his best performances but it’s a pretty difficult character – how likable can you make this guy? Penelope Cruz was more annoying to me on this viewing than I ever remembered. Ray Liotta and Rachel Griffiths are the standouts here. My first impression of Ray Liotta’s appearance in the movie when I first saw it was, “could they force comparisons to Goodfellas any more?” lol, but he’s really pretty fantastic, especially in the character’s later years. Griffiths is most amazing in the scene following Depp’s arrest in their home. Even though what she’s done is unbelievable, I can’t help feeling so sorry for her.

It’s the last half hour that wrecks me and brings the movie up a lot, as Jung goes past the point of no return and beyond. There’s so many images in this section of the movie that kill me – his daughter’s piercing, shaming gaze as he’s arrested once more; her sitting alone with her pink suitcase waiting to go to California; her line in the visiting room, “I thought you couldn’t live without your heart,”; and the final scene when she ‘visits’ him grown up, that reverse angle on their hug is so sad.

I just realised I could sit around quoting this movie forever. As I said, it has it’s little problems, but for me they’re far outweighed. It’s just a beautiful movie with an amazing philosophy in Jung’s voiceover narration – unbelievably sad, but with glimmers of joy. It’s sad that this turned out to be Ted Demme’s last movie, but it’s certainly his best.

I confess before I even try reviewing this beautiful movie: I’m a Johnny Depp fan, moreso with each movie I see; I’m a budding filmmaker with ideas that some might, and some have, call as bad as Edward D. Wood’s; and I have gender issues. Maybe this is why I like this film, but I would love to just say it’s because it is a great movie, and I think it is.

Performances all round are superb – Martin Landau is a revelation, I don’t think he’s ever played as far from himself as he does in this movie. This is the kind of transformation that today would warrant a leading Oscar. It’s great that he won for supporting. It’s a shame the movie didn’t win more than this and make-up (odd, is this the most Oscars a single character has ever won in a movie?) Johnny Depp is, of course, perfect. And Tim Burton made a great decision for once ditching Danny Elfman’s music in favour of Howard Shore’s. Shore’s opening theme sounds very like Elfman, but later in the movie when things get slightly heavy and poignant, Shore is much more able than Elfman in my opinion.

I really don’t know how to be objective about this movie – but if you ever thought you had a great idea but were afraid to let it out ‘cos you knew that really it was stupid, then this movie will make you want to let it out.