Review of Your Friends & Neighbors (1998) by Matt S — 22 Jun 2010

I like how LaBute builds tension with just actors. It's something he should remember when signing on to do his next film. He used to be able have a smart, gifted young cast take his words and throw them into an emotional galaxy worth watching. Now, not so much.

This is a rough, sometimes uncomfortable viewing. And the ending really didn't know what it wanted to do. I wanted Aaron Eckhart's character to flip a lid, but he never did.

The great thing about this film is that it pushes buttons and makes your squirm with its brutal honesty, but it has no clear resolution, there is no clear change. This is probably what LaBute wanted, but it's just too cynical, almost a sign of laziness.