The life of the so-called celebrities is at the center of this film. Adam Goldberg, an actor himself, directed and contributed to the screen play. It's a good thing he decided to stay behind the camera this time, something other novel directors don't seem to understand in their attempt of making their own statement in the movies.Gray Evans, appears to be a paranoid actor. On the one hand, he welcomes his status as a leading man in the business. On the other, he sees stalkers with most of the people he comes in contact. Gray, who is married to his idol, Mia, an actress, who he has greatly admired before their marriage. Mia is the source of what appears to be his own self-destruction. After all, how many premieres and red carpets can one take and still stay sane? Gray, who can't walk the Los Angeles streets without being recognized, suspects one of his fans for stalking him. The casual visit to a book store puts him in contact with a man who he also suspects is the source of all the bad publicity about him that starts appearing in the tabloids. The gossip is that his marriage is about to end. Gray also starts reflecting on his past relationship with the mysterious Shana, as he mixes reality and illusion. He has to rely on an Israeli security man named Yahud to protect him from the danger lurking outside.Giovanni Ribisi, who plays Gray, is a young actor who has proved he has what it takes to do good work. His work suffers because of the demands on his playing his obsession. Franka Potente, a good German actress is seen as Mia, the object of Gray's affections. Jared Harris has some good moments, ditto Joshua Jackson, and the rest of the cast. Vince Vaughan and Elvis Costello appear as themselves.Perhaps Mr. Goldberg will find the right material on his next time directing.

this was good. it rocked like a vibrating motel bed on prom night. i can understand why the Luddites didn't dig it. Amish and Menonite Film styles are purer genres. this was something new. There is a fine difference between the Amish and the Menonites. But if you aren't one, does it really matter? If you felt unprepared for this movie, its not because your dumb, its because you've been oriented to a simpler formula of resolution and character development. It's okay if you don't like trying new things. There are plenty of good silent films, and plenty of good black and white movies with easier plots and characters to follow. There's a whole world of good cinema, you might not be ready for this one. But, i was really hoping you were. we hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.

It seems people either love or hate this movie.I think novels, movies, and art do not have to follow an "essay" format. There's no requirement that a hypothesis must be proffered and clearly and logically proved within the movie/book. The goal may be to make people think, to raise questions without giving easy answers, and to do so in a framework that incites both feeling and thought simultaneously.Hrm, I don't think I'm writing this in a way that really gets my thoughts across, but there you have it.I enjoyed the movie. It was thought provoking without being highbrow. There was no "moral story" laid out or beaten into you.I'd recommend this movie for people who like mystery, thought, and don't necessarily require a definite answer/conclusion to enjoy a film. The acting was super, and the movie flowed well.:) Alma

This film is ridiculously terrible. The one other comment left here pretty much sums it up. I like Giovanni Ribisi and thought the film looked interesting enough. The worst part about my experience with this film is that I had to campaign hard to win the "who's picking the movie" debate with my girlfriend, and not only was it just bad, it was awful. I won't restate what Juliet2005 said about it since she hit the nail on the head when it came to an unfocused plot and frustratingly meaningless diversions.What a disappointment for what was really a decent looking cast list. There's a cameo by Elvis Costello that kind of brought my attention back, but that ended up being weird. I enjoyed the music throughout the film, and as the other review said, the camera work was nice. But, come one, what's up with the plot?!Fail.