though Penn doesn't always seem to know where he's going, his movie doesn't altogether miss its destination.

What is good about this film is very good, but there are too many side trips, in both the plot and the emotions, for the film to draw us in fully.

Technically and structurally the film has a fair amount of problems, but as a venue for talented actors to express remarkable characters the film is second to none.

The movie is dramatically shapeless and pretentious too, but as director, Sean Penn gets powerful performances from his central trio: Nicholson, Anjelica Huston, and David Morse.