The Worst Film Ever

Just so...so bad

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Vince Vaughn is extraordinary in this hilarious dark comedy. The role of Lester was made for Vaughn. He looks so young in this roller-coaster of friendship and murder. His performance in this film makes the movie. Although I don't recall when this film came out in 1998, I was amazed at the A list cast that takes you on a journey that rotates around small town living. Very hilarious performances by all. I only wish that I had seen it earlier. I always enjoy older films that actors have made when they were less than famous. This movie definitely is worthy of the remarkable performances by all involved. If you have ever lived in a small town then you would definitely appreciate this film. Of course maybe without all the murder and deceit (or maybe so!).

Not only was the story entertaining and somewhat suspenseful but the characters here are one of a kind. Vaughan's laugh is contagious. Yes, he is a killer but one can't help but like him. Not too many actors can pull that off. It took me a couple of times to realize who he got into the truck with at the end, and then the ending made more sense to me. Phoenix also did a superb job as Lester's "fishin' buddy", who just wants to live a normal life. Georgina Cates who plays Amanda does a superb job creating a character that you can't help but hate. Garofalo contributes her dry sense of humor as usual. Watch how she interracts with Barney. The many talented people in this film contribute to a well made product containing good humor, suspense, action and drama. Shooter fires nine out of ten bullets at this flick.

I have had a recorded copy of this movie since 1999 and it still blows me away. I laugh my butt off every time I watch it. Vince Vaughn is perfect for the part of Lester Long (Lester the... Molester). This is without a doubt on my top ten favorite movies list. I loved the fact that the deputies name is Barney. He really showed aspects of the late Don Knotts in him. I love this movie. I could go on and on about it, but I don't want to bore you fellow readers. So I'm going to go back to bed now, I hope you have enjoyed what I have just said (I'm stalling, I don't have enough lines). If you haven't seen this, then you should drop what you're doing and rent or buy this movie. You won't regret it.

There must have been something in the original script for this film to get the mutually antagonist Scott brothers (Ridley and Tony) behind this. It hardly seems worth the fuss. It's a contrived potboiler with tiny shades of David Lynch, the Coen brothers and Tarantino, and even Hitchcock. In fact, the film appears to be mostly a redneck version of Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train.' It also has an interesting cast, although in the end it is the characters that matter and no casting can save what isn't written or directed well. Vaughn's part is the showiest and he has the looks and zest to make it work, but his Lester Long character is played too loudly. There's no undercurrent of madness or menace, no dropping down of voice or personality to reveal the evil behind the mask of charming bravado. And such a flamboyant persona on a traveling mass murderer would make him stand out a mile during an investigation. Indeed, this film's own lack of subtlety is a big part of its problem. It sets up Phoenix's 'Clay' character's dilemma early on, but strains credibility by adding on another murder and then shoehorning in, by utter coincidence, a serial killer (Vaughn's 'Lester Long') to pile up the body count. In fact, even the set-up suicide at the beginning is forced: the humiliated husband would simply kill Phoenix then himself, maybe even the wife, too. He wouldn't go through all the trouble to set things up just so he'll be dead with the idea that Phoenix will be accused of murder. In the history of sexual affair crimes when has that scenario ever been seen? And then we follow with another killing by another character (Georgina Cates as the widow) to be followed by Vaughn's 'Lester' popping up to do so more killing. C'mon, now, this is silly. Then there is a pair of federal agents showing up to investigate and we get Janeane Garofalo and John Morris. Now, I think Garofalo is adorable with a low-key presence that is just right for the film (and an antidote to the histrionics of Vaughn) but I can't buy her as a long-time cop. Not for a second. She's slumming as a guest star here ("Special Fun Appearance by Ms. Janeane Garofalo") and her partner Morris is something out of an Esquire magazine fashion ad ("Special Non-Speaking Performance by Male Model") About the only on-the-money characters are Sheriff Mooney and the slutty widow. Scott Wilson is perfect as the Sheriff and quite believable. Unlike his deputy (named 'Barney' - oh, brother!) the character is not played as a yokel who is in over his head. Then there is the evil widow, played by Georgina Cates, who is letter perfect in the role. Not only that, but Cates is an English actress, yet you can't detect even a hint of her natural accent. And on the pulchritude scale, she and Nikki Arlyn (as the waitress-victim) rate highly. And as for Phoenix, he tries... but it's hard to get behind a character low enough to have an affair with his best friend's wife, and who also can't seem to summon the intelligence to deal with the psychotic personalities of Cates and Vaughn. I also agree with many others who feel that the ending is a sloppy cop-out. It's an attempt at adding one more trick but it seems as contrived as everything else: more about cleverness than common sense.