Short Cuts

I love movies! I truly enjoy any movie I watch; the film "Short Cuts" however might be a different story. I think the concept of it was a good idea, but there were just too many story lines (I think seven or eight) for me to keep track of and remember, and all those in turn lead to an extremely long movie. The word overwhelming I think best fits the description I have for "Short Cuts." Long movies can sometimes be difficult for anyone to watch, but when you through in eight diverse stories that's where you run into trouble. Also, the end of the film seems very unsettling, almost like the director just wanted it to be over, but couldn't figure out a way to tie everything together. I think if a few of the stories would have been left out it might have been more enjoyable.
The two Raymond Carver stories we did read that were included in the film stayed pretty true form, which helped when it came to remembering what was happening. I think the fact too that it took a whole week to watch it made it harder for me as a viewer.
The things I liked most about the movie were the actors. I guess that doesn't speak to highly of the film, but it made it more watchable. Robert Downey Jr. is one of my favorite actors, and even in one of his younger roles he is still extremely talanted, quick witted, and hilarious. I thought it was funny also to see some of the actors looking so young, like Julianne Moore, Chris Penn, Frances McDormand, and Peter Gallagher.
In the end I think the theme too was something I didn't agree with, that pretty much everyone drinks, cheats, and lies. It just wasn't a feel good movie, and I know not all movies have happy endings, but this one was just too depressing.