Some reasons why some people think it is over rated.

You forgot there was no nudity or sex.

Harlan Ellison, writing in the 1980s, said the studios were marketing to the lowest common denominator with "roast beef red and car crashes"

He also mentioned that teen films that did well all had three things: bare t1ts, disdain for authority, and destruction of private property

I'm inclined to agree with him somewhat in that I would nowadays delete the word "teen" from the above. Any film that doesn't have some of that has less chance of succeeding.

Don't forget your tsvets!

You said it exactly, my friend.

There was a time when teens and young adults would actually go to see mature, intelligent and sometimes challenging films...sadly, that was 40 years ago.

Well there was a fire. Kind of an explosion.

Reasons other people think it's overrated:

1. Poor reason for the man to have become a legendary town-pariah in the first place. Why the hell was he blamed when no one knew about the affair, and he could have very well died in the fire alongside the people who actually did?

2. Everyone comes to his gathering even though he scared them to death. I thought the whole reason to make the event a "funeral" was to make it seem as though the guests could reveal the reasons for their fear without fear of reprisal.

3. Old man tells a story that sounds fabricated, and everyone buys it with mouth agape. Woman appears sorrier for old man than dead sister.

4. Predictable imagery near ending, predictable ending in itself. The idea of a fake funeral telegraphs a real death at the end, but I was personally hoping for something a bit deeper.

I thought the film was O.K., but I didn't love it. If the performances and direction weren't as good as they were, I'd like it a lot less.

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I know you're being sarcastic, in a serious kind of way.

However, a large part of the problem is that this film wasn't promoted nor widely distributed. That has more to do with the internal workings of the industry than the audience.

But really, why do I care? Films like this, an elderly lead and an unconventional story and setting, are never going to be a big hit. Once in a great while a film that goes outside the norm such as this does hits it big. Mostly I've noticed that it happens with low budget horror films which I abhor. Or with religion/morality themed films, which won't get me into the audience either. I don't flee from films with a message but don't hit me over the head with a preconceived POV.

I think those responsible should hang their heads in shame that Duvall, Spacek, and Murray weren't recognized at award time. But if this movie was made just for me and my ilk, that's fine with me. So be it.

"I'd never ask you to trust me. It's the cry of a guilty soul."

i think film is best drama of this year, some might think that is over rating it but who cares?..

What some of you don't know is that the DIRECTOR of the movie is from a small town in Illinois. Most of us grew up with him. He was one of the drum majors in the marching band when he was in high school.... so a lot of these overly enthusiastic reviews are from people who grew up with him and still think they are best friends with him because they knew him 25 years ago. its the closest claim to real fame in the area so they are over start struck.