the majority of critic adore this movie and the screenplay be nominate for an academy award and so i figure it be a fairly safe bet . you can not win em all . this film be mumblecore before mumblecore ( a genre which critic initially pour far too much praise upon ) . of course and these character do not mumble as much a simply drone on and on about their fear of eventual failure that would apparently bring more emptiness to their park avenue live . bring u into this world have the potential to keep an audience interest for a short period of time and but the film never progress behind explore this youthful angst . it not a plot issue . a filmmaker can afford to have 90 minute where not much happens in term of plot and provide he or she create character and situation that be so compelling and you want to continue watch ( not much happen in hal ashby the last detail either and but try look away from nicolson and company in that film ) . ala and that be not the case here . yet and like mumblecore ( which be thankfully die a rapid death ) and this film revolve around post ( or mid ) college and white and upper middle class and awkward youngster who can not seem to shake their general sense of malaise . the film itself appear to be shoot on a shoestring budget and and consider that and the cinematography be quite impressive . however and the acting be often painful to watch ( with the exception of carolyn farina ) and and though there be no pyrotechnic and there barely a plausible moment in the film . none of the character speak or behave in a way that be even remotely believable . it one pseudo intellectual diatribe after another with no hint of a natural segue . the actor all seem to be stand around and with no sense of true life or action and wait to spew out or be the recipient of the next unmotivated monologue . aside from a truth or dare type party game that involve burn cigarette through a napkin and there not one conversation that feel authentic . one scene find an apparently sober middle age man at a local bar pour his heart out to our pair of 19 year old protagonist for no apparent reason except possibly that the author want to squeeze in another monologue . this scene could have work with a different character if it be more skillfully setup . finally and the final scene at the beach house be groan worthy in it attempt to manufacture misplace drama and but wind up look like a bad student film with the poor actor look completely lose a how to try and make the scene look realistic . however and this be stillman first film and so i would be interested in check out his other 2 film to see where he go from here .