What a waste of my time!!!

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

This movie is very uneven. Parts of it are clear and entertaining. Other scenes are confusing, or a bit too hostile, or a bit too stupid.There is a sentimentality which permeates most of the scenes about the Ball shoe factory. This helps one get through silly situations, and ones which seem to make no sense.If 15 minutes were expertly cut out of this thing, it would be a lot more watchable, and interesting. I am sure that if I was Australian, I might understand more of what was happening (and why). So, if you are down under, I can heartily endorse this to you.I was attracted to watch this because of the cast: Anthony Hopkins, Toni Collette, among others. The only character I believed was Toni Collette, but this could well be because I don't get the Aussie way-of-life.

Yes this is an Australian film, and it is entertaining and fun in that regard. Also seeing Russell Crowe in one of his earliest films is fun. But this film is ultimately about values. What is important to you? What is important in life? This very disconnected man (Hopkins) is good at his job. Very good. He is an efficiency expert. Which is also a euphemism for; he's hired to look for the the least 'productive' people because the company that hired him is about to lay some of them off. (all workers should take notice!). He understands that when his job is complete, and the layoffs announced, he'd best get out of the way, maybe out of town. Then he runs into this little moccasin company where, if truth be told, none of them are very efficient in their jobs. But, is that all there is to life?

I saw this film in 1992 at the Cinema Arts in Huntington , New York. I have it on video. I viewed it last night for the first time in 4 years. It is a nice simple story of change. How change effects people. How simple things could be deceiving. I love Anthony Hopkins in this. I originally saw it because Russell Crowe is in it. He was excellent in "Proof" directed by Joclyn Moorehouse. He was excellent in that as he was in this. I loved the character of the father . How he states that his children are the most important thing to him. There are some real gems here. Well worth the look some 12 years later. Each of the performances are excellent. I realize this is not the film for everyone. It is not flashy, there is no explosions. The appeal is in th simple story .

Who knew Hannibal Lector could be so subtly funny and filled with pathos. Hopkns turns in a marvelous role of the efficiency consultant who thinks nothing of recommending that half a work force be fired for better profits. Then he visits a down and out shoe company and meets his match in the Mendelshohn and Kurts characters and the rest of their workmates. Indeed, Kurts steals the film as the owner who lives back then and hopes that his efficiency expert can get him and his factory into the modern era, but does not expect it to be as brutal and painful as it is.Kudos to all. If you want a droll comedy that gives remarkable insight into the human dilemma, rent this. You will not regret it. In closing, pay close attention to how Hopkins portrays a plethora of emotions with only his facial and non verbal reactions. He is a genius!