finest work. And Bridges, one of the best actors on the planet, blends the contradictions of Ted . . . into an indelible portrait. You can't shut the door on this spellbinder. It gets into your head." James Christopher of The Times observed, "What's strange about the film is that it's pitched like a play. There are no obvious ructions yet it bristles with small riddles and puzzling inconsistencies . . . The chemistry is absurd and tragic. Bridges is the obvious pull; Basinger is a one-note trauma. The story is curiously spellbinding, and fabulously ambivalent about their sins." Awards and nominations Jeff Bridges was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male but lost to Paul Giamatti for Sideways. Tod Williams was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay but lost to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for Sideways, and was nominated for the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian Film Festival but lost to Bahman Ghobadi for Turtles Can Fly. The film received the National Board of Review Award for Excellence In Filmmaking. References External links 2004 films 2004 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films 2000s English-language films Films scored by Marcelo Zarvos Films about writers Films based on American novels Films based on works by John Irving Films directed by Tod Williams Films set in New York (state) Focus Features films American independent films 2004 independent films Films about adultery in the United States Films produced by Anne Carey Films about dysfunctional families Films about grieving 2000s American films