★★★★☆

 

Kevin Spacey can really act.I realize some consider him an acquired taste, but I like much of what he does. He brings a certain energy to a role which is hard to describe.

I didn’t get around to watching this movie until after Robin Williams had passed so it the fact he was also in it made it hold a special place in my heart. Robin Williams’ role was small, but it was funny. Not funny in his usual random orbit way, but scripted funny with excellent delivery. That scene where Robin describes himself as a “functional alcoholic” and Kevin, his shrink, trying to get him to drop the “functional” part was classic. Made funnier when Kevin needed to meet him around 5pm and Robin responds “I usually start drinking then.” You really have to see it. Written words simply can’t capture the humor.

Kevin plays a “doctor feel good” type shrink passing out whatever his A-list clientele need a script for and turning his own life into something of a train wreck. Well, it starts as a train wreck at the beginning of the film but he does find a chance to limp away from the wreck.

It’s rather amazing when you look at the list of cast members then see this movie has only a 97 minute run time. Everyone seems to flit in and out of the picture like their character’s brief connection to actual reality.

Add this one to your rental list.

For more titles to add to your rental list, try list one and list two.