I can't find anything particularly praiseworthy about a film that glorifies the empty-headed behavior of its central character with loving close-ups of his expressionless face after he causes the death of a railroad security guard in a grisly accident.
Not only are we treated to the character's one-note behavior throughout, but his empty-headed friends get the same treatment. The only half intelligent comment comes from a female friend who says, "Let's talk about Iraq," but is followed by the boy's remark, "I never read the papers." We're expected to find the film a fascinating character study of a lonely, alienated youth but all of the material is treated with the same detachment as the boy's behavior. The talentless lead is a string-bean with a messy head of hair and a determination to keep his feelings hidden from everyone, including the viewer, with a face that never changes expression.
The authority figures around him aren't given too much to do but at least bring some semblance of morality to the tale.
Summing up: The arty mobile shots are merely pretentious and the film does nothing for the reputation of Gus Van Sant or his so-called actors. He gets even more of the blame since he wrote the screenplay.
