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(1 - 22) of 22 OFCS Rating: 36% Rotten Page   1   "Towne has a perhaps unique ability to make this ill-fated movie romance classically seductive while doing full justice to its authentic subject. [His] canniness as a writer and casual sophistication do wonders for the actors."   Blogcritics.org   Alan Dale B- "Anytime Farrell and Hayek decide to play up their sexuality, that's cause to dance in the streets"   FilmJerk.com   Brian Orndorf C- "No one gets away unscathed in Robert Towne's overblown attempt at transfiguring John Fante's novel to film."   ColeSmithey.com   Cole Smithey "Whereas good noir dialogue has a biting, sardonic edge, here the self-conscious literary-ness falls flat and foolish."   ReelTalk Movie Reviews   Donald J. Levit B+ "A stylistic triumph, one whose story and character shortcomings are overcompensated with lush visuals, a haunting score and a trio of strong performances"   FilmJerk.com   Edward Havens C "The details add up to a story, but it's not cohesive and fluid enough to be engaging. How are we supposed to love the characters when we never understand their behavior?"   EricDSnider.com   Eric D. Snider C- "As arid as its title...not only woefully old-fashioned but emotionally opaque, with characters that never come to life and told at a plodding pace."   One Guy's Opinion   Frank Swietek 2/5 "An excessively melodrama story filled with cliches about writing."   Spirituality and Practice   Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat 3/4 "Towne has not given us the great American love story, but he has presented us with a captivating view of 1933 Los Angeles and a tale of romance that involves us in the plight of the characters."   ReelViews   James Berardinelli 2/5 "gravely calls into question Towne's current abilities as both a screenwriter and director."   Filmcritic.com   Jay Antani 1/4 "A minimalist melodrama that's badly frayed at the seams and threatening to unravel."   Palo Alto Weekly   Jeanne Aufmuth "It hammers its characters into situations, rather than letting the situations flow from the characters. It can't seem to get comfortable."   In the Dark   Jonathan F. Richards 2/5 "full review in Greek"   Movies for the Masses   Joseph Proimakis 2/4 "How long can one man piggyback on the success of Chinatown? The beat goes on..."   Slant Magazine   Keith Uhlich 2.5/4 "A pulpy, hard-boiled, ironic tale but with a happy ending"   Movie Habit   Marty Mapes "Farrell pulls off here what is unfortunately all too rare in film acting: he understands the character he's playing better than the character himself, and he uses that knowledge to spin a bit of movie magic."   Flick Filosopher   MaryAnn Johanson C- "Generates all the heat of a snow cone."   Lessons of Darkness   Nick Schager 3/5 "Termina numa nota amarga; não em função de sua história, mas da promessa não realizada de se revelar um filme grandioso, digno de seu diretor."   Cinema em Cena   Pablo Villaca 4/5 "A perplexing but ultimately rewarding experience."   eFilmCritic.com   Peter Sobczynski 2.5/5 "This film is too dull to really spring to life."   Shadows on the Wall   Rich Cline C "[Director Robert Towne] may have been passionate about the project but that passion does not materialize on the screen."   Reeling Reviews   Robin Clifford 0.5/4 "As stale, deluded, and sad as the cot in an old man's flophouse cubicle."   Film Freak Central   Walter Chaw  (1 - 22) of 22 OFCS Rating: 36% Rotten Page   1