(3 stars out of five)--A frustratingly inconsistent film. Starts out beautifully, but something doesn't feel quite right, and it's apparent early on that director Gregg Araki (The Doom Generation), in his first "serious" film, doesn't have the emotional maturity as a director to pull it off. The best thing about the picture is the acting: Joseph Gordon-Levitt tackles the material head-on, completely becoming his character in every word and mannerism. Just as good is newcomer Brady Corbet, who plays the second lead character. These actors have great moments to shine in the film, but ultimately the movie just feels muddled and unsure of itself. It hits home the graphic points with great power, but Araki isn't quite sure yet how to handle the more fragile, quietly emotional sequences. They feel hamfisted, and, at their worst, cartoony. I thought it was a long shot, but I was hopeful that Araki might be able to turn himself around with the great material he was given. Oh well... It's still a must-see, just for Gordon-Levitt's performance.
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