How sad is this?

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Very poor!I am very tired of these kinds of movies. They seem to be a reaction against Hollywood. And in the end these "independent" movies are just as trite and empty.The first 5 minutes are intriguing and comedic. Afterwards, you get the sense that it becomes more and more of a play. Which I am not sure that there is any purpose in filming a play. I would imagine that the play would be a lot better. With the psychological dimension, a play can bring the viewer to imagine more than a film. But to film basically a play, you get the least of both world, in my opinion. Unless it is done in a very original way, like dogville. This movie just seemed trite and transparent to me.

From Wendy MacLeod's play about a 1963 Thanksgiving reunion between a young man and his peculiar family, including a twin sister who is obsessed with Jacqueline Kennedy. Oppressively set in a shadowy house during a raging storm, this head-scratching talk-fest quickly tires both the eye and the ear. The scenario is full of dreary eccentrics, although Parker Posey's 'Jackie-O' is a dark, original creation unto herself. The actress, known for going out on a limb with basically unplayable roles, manages to walk a fine line between comically scabrous and downright scary (which, in an otherwise boring movie, is a triumph). Other performances by Josh Hamilton, Tori Spelling, Freddie Prinze, Jr., and a sadly under-valued Genevieve Bujold are not quite as on-target, mainly due to the sophomoric writing. *1/2 from ****

This is one of the most perverse and disturbing black comedies I've seen. And also one of the most well written, well acted and hilarious. I enjoy watching a film that is like watching a stage play (which of course this was based upon). Parker Posey is great as always, as well as everyone else. I thought Tori Spelling was surprisingly good as the "innocent" yet "not so innocent" fiancée. This is the best "dysfunctional family" film I've seen. An extremely offbeat and very funny...satire? Not for everyone, but much more intelligent and clever than most movies today. A great and very underrated film. And I might add, one of the best films of the 1990's.

A very dark, funny little movie. Parker Posey is tremendous, and most of the film exists as little more than a set-up for her character. My only real complaint is the stilted, "stagey" way the dialog is delivered. It feels like they are going for a 1930's Broadway play vibe, a twisted Rogers and Hart show, and the acting shows that direction. On a live stage, I'm sure it wouldn't have been noticeable; but the delivery is conspicuous when captured on camera. Still enjoyable, but the effect is distracting. See it for Parker Posey, and for a surprising Tori Spelling, and try not to worry too much about what happens at the end.