Good plot. Strong performance by Ethan Hawke. And Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard were both equally meticulous. It's hard to guess what you're in for. I watched this movie with no prior expectations and the plot confirmed that it's the correct way to watch a movie like this. With that said, sometimes the movie feels a little slow, albeit it's not that much of a problem because the movie soon picks up pace and catches your attention back.Don't go looking for moral lessons in it, though if you look hard enough you may find some.Overall, a fantastic movie totally driven by marvellous plot and strong performances. In the end, I came out jollier and more refreshed than I was going in.

A small, much more contemporary piece compared to his highly cerebral and evocative Waking Life from the same year, Richard Linklater's film adaptation of the Stephen Belber play is rather convincing and foreboding in its portrayal of three friends from high school who reunite ten years later and learn how little each of them has been able to shake their respective pasts.Ethan Hawke truly stands out here as a bonafide actor; completely confident and convincing in his role as a drug dealer/firefighter who initially seems like a typical, stoned-out druggie yet turns out to be far more observant and conniving. Robert Sean Leonard is also strong who likewise turns a few corners over the course of a night of talking frankly with people from his past. Overall, this is a fairly minor work from one of America's most important directors, but it shows his capabilities to stretch beyond his comfort zone and mix it up within a rather unpopular but still important subgenre of drama. Shot on digital video for a more authentic and gritty feel, this is a gripping story that at its best shows pitiful characters at their most vulnerable points.

I remember when this film came out, I was curious because Linklater is an interesting director, even though I'm not crazy about most of his work. When I saw the lukewarm reviews, I forgot about it. I'm glad I decided to finally give it a shot. A real-time drama unfolding in a motel room (it's no surprise to learn that it was based on a play), the film explores a lot of compelling ethical ground, and gripped me despite its simplicity. The moral high ground keeps shifting between the three characters and the film takes a strong premise to surprising places. I thought the performances by Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard were quite good... not great, but very good. While Hawke's character is believable, he seems to be laying it on a little thick. Not scenery-chewing exactly, just a little overboard. I also thought Linklater's decision to film the whole thing with fuzzy hand-held camera was a rather pointless choice. I can come up with all kinds of justifications for it, but ultimately it was distracting. However, the script is so strong and thought-provoking that it's not a major detriment.

Okay, so, admittedly, I am a huge Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke fan. But, I think this film is just more proof that they are artists worthy of keeping your eye on. This film makes use of the same enthusiastic writing technique that makes Linklater's works Before Sunrise and Before Sunset also my favorites. This time, instead of two characters, there are three. But, that's all you get for the entire film. Three people in one room. Two guys who knew each other in high school and have stayed in touch off and on meet up in a motel room when on of them is in town. As they play catch up, you find out their versions of past events vary. To clear things up, enter their former classmate, played by Uma Thurman. The dynamic between these three is phemonenal. This movie is a must see.