Good plot and relatively good movie until the happy ending. Have the producers were willing to allow some meaningful criticism without falling for the false safety net of the happy ending this movie would have been great.
*** SPOILER *** The plot, the characters were good enough until they decided to kill it with a happy ending that was not only unnecessary but contradictory with the message that the movie was pushing up until the backstage showdown. After that, the movie becomes a meaningless waste of time. That was the moment to say "cut, print, we have a movie." Only the pathetic fear of most of U.S. movie directors, producers and writers with their own possibilities for reflection and social critique forced the subsequent scenes. Up until then the movie was a powerful critique of the excesses of the media and the responsibility of all the parties involved in such excesses. It is a shame also as far as Holly Hunter's performance. She is a great actress, gorgeous, witty, amazing. She carried the bulk of the movie with an excellent performance, especially her monologue in the master room, as much as Ms. Bates did with her role. Even Brittany Murphy's performance catched my eye. What a shame and what a waste.
*** SPOILER *** The plot, the characters were good enough until they decided to kill it with a happy ending that was not only unnecessary but contradictory with the message that the movie was pushing up until the backstage showdown. After that, the movie becomes a meaningless waste of time. That was the moment to say "cut, print, we have a movie." Only the pathetic fear of most of U.S. movie directors, producers and writers with their own possibilities for reflection and social critique forced the subsequent scenes. Up until then the movie was a powerful critique of the excesses of the media and the responsibility of all the parties involved in such excesses. It is a shame also as far as Holly Hunter's performance. She is a great actress, gorgeous, witty, amazing. She carried the bulk of the movie with an excellent performance, especially her monologue in the master room, as much as Ms. Bates did with her role. Even Brittany Murphy's performance catched my eye. What a shame and what a waste.