The Michael Douglas non-speech at the end of the film was a great moment in cinema. Most other holywood approaches would have involved an inspirational speech culminating in majestic music, with hardball reporters softening at the humanity of it all, ad nauseum. I was pleasantly surprised. Also loved the performance of the English woman who played the creepy wife.

Preachy, overrated, over-acted. . .shaky cameras and grainy film shots do not a great picture make. The picture was trying to make 'points' that anyone with two cells in their head already understand. Although I find the drug laws in America ridiculously outdated and Puritannical, the film's attempt to point fingers and raise questions just didn't resonate with me.

I like the whole aesthetic of this movie. The lighting and camerawork lend a sense of gritty reality. But what makes it really special are outstanding performances by a number of actors. Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta Jones, Miguel Ferrer, Topher Grace, and Benicio Del Toro especially. One of my favorites.