The story lines gradually intersect. Some of the characters become more likable as their stories develop. Some we come to care about and others not so much.The acting throughout is quite good. Alan Arkin at his cranky best.Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. It's just another of those "it's OK" type films.

This is divided into sections each about an aphorism. Lawyer Troy (Matthew McConaughey) is celebrating a win at a bar with his colleagues. Then he hits a pedestrian and decides to drive off. Walker (John Turturro) is a physics professor who is cheating on his wife Patricia (Amy Irving) and she suspects him. Beatrice (Clea DuVall) is a maid but her sweet blissful nature is shaken after getting run over by Troy. Gene (Alan Arkin) is a cynical insurance claims manager with family problems and bitter at his happy co-worker.There are interesting stories and good performances. The cast is amazing. It aspires to be philosophically deep and meaningful. The meandering nature of the story telling leaves me wondering if the movie is actually saying anything. The rotating characters do not allow the tension to build. It needs to rebuild every 15 minutes. I wonder if the movie would be a lot better following one character and dropping the philosophical pretense.

i love the title, yes there are interweaving meetings, coincidence, fate, happiness, sadness,jealousy, resentment, or different portrayals of peoples approaches to the above (in their eyes) yet the 'one thing' to me is LIFE! that's how i saw it anyway.Life is a multitude of experiences and there was no definition of what 'one thing ' is , so its best not to judge the meaning before watching. hope i've not said too much.you do have to watch this film, i started to try and fit all of it into a one meaning, then realized it wasn't all like that. beautiful film! life is like that. McConaughey is great, he is one of my favourites at the moment.

A Robert Altman-style film, but written and directed by women. Several characters ponder what happiness means as they slog through their daily lives. The cast is impeccable, and includes Clea Duvall, Matthew Mc., John Turturro and Alan Arkin, who steals the show amid a very large cast. He plays an embittered, divorced middle manager well past retirement age with a junkie son. On a whim, Arkin commits an irresponsible act that will come back to haunt him. Duvall is an accident victim whose life can never be the same. If you like Altman movies, in all probability you will like this one. All others, beware. No wild car chases, explosions or shoot-outs here.