I really really wanted to like this movie ..one of the greatest directors of all time devoting a movie to his own childhood and upbringing and how he fell in love with movie making !!! It could and should have been a masterpiece but .....and there are quite a few buts .....the movie is about 45 minutes too long , some of the scenes are so drawn out you are begging them to end , some of the more meaty, controversial aspects are just glossed over and the trademark lighter themes are too light and seem like padding....the acting is excellent , especially Michelle Williams as the mother descending into mental torture and the cinematography is beautifully done ....I came out of the cinema feeling I had been cheated of what should have been a brilliant experience.