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Created Jan 03, 2008 01:00AM PST • Edited Jul 14, 2013 09:11AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Pretty Bad 1.5

   First rate casting and production values can’t save this stinker from its ridiculous story. The movie is about throwing your life away for an absurd contest. Funny how life mirrors art for the unfortunates who star in it. Hackman, Crowe, DiCaprio, Stone, Sinese … what a waste of talent. In particular, I don’t think Sharon Stone’s career ever recovered.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Hackman doesn’t give bad performances, especially in Westerns. Plus, the movie deserves some credit for introducing Russell Crowe to American audiences. But Sharon Stone should have had her gorgeous head examined for thinking audiences would accept her as a serious action hero in a movie that veers dangerously close to parody.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Barely OK 2.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Perfect 5.0

10. Film

    Pretty Bad 1.5

    High production values make the lame story all the more disappointing.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Awful 0.0

13. Music Bad 1.0

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.8

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

19. Rudeness Salty 1.7

21. Reality

    Glib 1.8

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.5

23. Biological Glib 2.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0