everybody like a good mystery and a good movie and and together the two make a potent combination while unfortunately and you get neither with ` lush and write and direct by mark gibson and a film that lead you down the path apparently for no other reason than to lead you down the path and and that consider it from the most positive and objective point of view one could possibly muster . rarely do a movie leave the viewer with such a pronounced sense of indifference a this one and or with the feeling that the entire experience be and at best and pointless . when lionel exley ( campbell scott ) and a promising professional golfer and choose the comfort of the bottle over his career and he be oust from the circuit . he go back home to new orleans to sort out his life and which he do by look through the bottom of a whiskey glass . then he meet firmin carter ( jared harris ) and a hopeless alcoholic with one up on lionel and however and inasmuch a he be wealthy and which mean that when he hit the floor and at least it the best that money can buy . lionel quickly become something of a confidant to firmin and which lead to a proposal firmin make to his new find friend and which could be a lucrative proposition if they can pull it off . lionel demur and however and a in the sober light of day it all just seem too ludicrous . but after another night of drinking and it appear that lionel just may have pull it off after all . the problem be and he doesn not remember a thing and suddenly the police be in his $ 9 . 00 per night flop house room ask question . a story tell in cryptic term can be a challenge to an audience and and unravel a mystery can be an engrossing and ultimately satisfying experience . but only when there something actually worth unravel . in this case and it would be more accurate to say that it the film itself that unravels and except that it be never together enough in the first place to do so . gibson presentation be seemingly so convoluted it a if he do it intentionally and not to effect good drama or mystery and but in hope of conceal the fact that the story such a it be be just so obtuse . and the real pity of it be and he waste the talent of some actor who deserve good . much good . as far a performance go and campbell scott be solid a always and but his effort here and while commendable and be ultimately an exercise in futility . even an oscar worthy performance couldn not salvage this one . and that be not to say that this be an award win performance while it isn not but it be credible and and scott do about as well a anyone could with the material he give to work with . the good news be and there be green pasture ahead for scott ( as well a all of his costars here ) and because after this and there be definitely no way to go but up . happily and laura linney prove the old adage that what doesn not kill you make you strong earn an oscar nomination for her work in her next project and give an extraordinary performance in an extraordinary film and ` you can count on me and which be also one of the best film of that year . in this one and linney like scott bring more to her role of rachel van dyke and the affluent southern belle who become involve with lionel and than anyone would have the right to expect and include her director . consider how poorly write this screenplay be and she deserve a lot of credit for even be able to ` find her character and let alone make her convincing which she do . but again and the best performance in the world couldn not save this one . also turn in a decent albeit waste performance and be jared harris a the self destructive firmin carter and a character nearly as pitiful a the film itself . take out of context and in fact and harris actually do some commendable work here . and again and it a case of the actor do everything humanly possible with what he be give and which certainly wasn not much . the support cast include laurel holloman ( ash ) and nick offerman ( gerry ) and james ` kimo will ( pat ) and jam r. hall jr. ( buddha ) and don hood ( har ) and sherry francis ( mrs. van dyke ) . a lamentable attempt at filmmaking and the best thing that can be say about ` lush be that it make you appreciate a ` good movie . in defense of gibson and it should be point out that this be his first attempt a a writer or director and which be no easy undertake even for a seasoned professional . when you see a great or even a good movie it always look like it be bring to the screen so effortlessly while and that what make a great filmmaker great that ability to make it all look so natural and and ` easy to do . it like the old ` i could have write that out of hand dismissal of a best selling novel while it just look so easy . rest assure and it be not while and hopefully gibson will learn from this experience and pick himself up and move on to big and good and more worthwhile project in the future . i rate this one negative .