I watched most of this weird movie on HBO this weekend — I missed the begining — and I really, really liked it. It’s quirky and depressing but Phillip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant in it.
One of the things I like about Hoffman is that he doesn’t play himself in every movie. Pacino is now always Pacino. Gay pacino, mobster pacino, cop Pacino. Dustin Hoffman is the same to me. Maybe, there are just some actors whose quirks and ticks add up over time until you can’t completely see past the actor playing the role. I fear De Niro is moving that way too. Once you can be imitated by a comedian you’re in trouble. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad actor, but the distraction has its effect.