Avis Metacritic

Has extraordinary depth and insight about the limitations and follies of human beings.

Beautifully acted film remains deeply intelligent and always fascinating.

As a drama about the ravages of mental illness, the movie works; too bad most of the critics read it only as a romantic soap opera in which the hero is an obsessive sap. They read the signs but miss the diagnosis.

Jonathan Nossiter's second feature (after the intricate and haunting ''Sunday'') strikes unnerving chords of mystery and dismay as it fuses the sinister, jump cut dislocations of a metaphysical thriller like ''Don't Look Now'' with a pain soaked meditation on love, guilt, marriage, and adultery.

This is a sensitive, thinking person's movie with a lot on its mind.

Skarsgard's performance is bold and raw (and reminiscent of vintage Jack Lemmon in its earnestness).

Pretension looms, and for many the web of symbolism will be too thick. But Rampling, to her credit, helps hold the nuthouse together.

Nossiter's premise is good, and he intrigues us with stylish conceits, but he makes a crucial casting error. Alec ought to be someone we care about.

Less would have been more, and this film is sabotaged by its maker's unchecked pretension.

Smug, often tedious, and comically crude.