Blazes up constantly with a stunning, off-kilter brilliance, an incandescent force that sometimes explodes the space between us and the screen.
90
Dallas ObserverGregory Weinkauf
Dallas ObserverGregory Weinkauf
Despite moments of gritty greatness that rival Scorsese's best, the movie is severely hampered by please-everyone syndrome, especially in the editing and choice of music.
80
VarietyEmanuel Levy
VarietyEmanuel Levy
Achieves a poetic, quasi-religious tone.
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Develops microclimates of mood without fully developing the same shadings of character.
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Equally fascinated by the afflictions of life and the usually squandered opportunities these afford for courage and self-sacrifice.
74
Mr. Showbiz
Mr. Showbiz
There's talent to burn in this movie. But the flame is cold.
70
TNT RoughCutChristopher Brandon
TNT RoughCutChristopher Brandon
Fans of the greatest working film director will be pleased.
70
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
The mood is less angst-ridden than hypercaffeinated, as Scorsese keeps cranking the velocity-bloodbath in the reggae inferno, exploding skyline pietà, climactic white light of redemption.
67
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Although it tries continually to focus on the heart, it ultimately fails to ignite it.
50
Film.comErnest Hardy
Film.comErnest Hardy
We don't really care about this everyman's moral dilemna and spiritual crisis because -- for all the poetic insights he offers in his philosophical voice-over -- he never transcends the details to become an engrossing character.