Listen most of what other people said is true. It's beautiful, it looks like it belongs, giving a modern take of filmmaking in a time where everything looks daft to us now, and the performances, directing, cinematography and especially the tone were all stellar.

Why do I still think it's not a great movie? Because while it gripped me at times, it's always for the anticipation of resolving the question of "so what?".

The movie never answers that question, it never goes out of it's way to establish what it all meant, what the point was. Is it a character study? Well, then it's a pointless one, because other than Oscar Isaac being the most perfect American ever portrayed on screen, I can't see why we should relate to his struggles, because he only has external ones, not internal. And the external don't comment on their own existence and make a point about a crooked system that promises a dream that can be realized, but solely exist for the character to struggle with. Again pointless.

It's so muddled up that what the film was trying to do gets lost. Is it a realistic portrayal of the American dream succeding despite the promise being broken? Is it about the struggle within to do the right thing? Is it about going forward no matter what? Is it about love and partnership and trusting each other?

There is no clear yes or no to these questions, and for some people that may be alright. I found that it made me feel that the creative team didn't know what it was about and failed to show it. And if they couldn't bothered to think what it was about, why should I?