the film would register nearly so well without Philip Seymour Hoffman in the leading role. Pudgy, pasty and squinty-eyed, Hoffman would scarcely stand out in a crowd, and yet, as he almost always has in his numerous impressive character turns, the actor here displays a live wire personality that makes him a magnetic figure even when portraying a state of thorough-going misery." However, A. O. Scott of The New York Times stated that Hoffman's "omnipresence is something of a mixed blessing", given that the protagonist is "more a state of feeling than a character". In 2014, Jordan Hoffman of Vanity Fair noted the way the film "tackled depression and substance abuse in a dark-as-hell comedy that takes on an additional layer of sadness [after Hoffman's death]". References External links Official website at Sony Pictures 2002 films American comedy-drama films Films about drugs Films about suicide Films shot in New Orleans Films shot in Mobile, Alabama Tragicomedy films 2002 comedy-drama films Films about depression Films about grieving Films about widowhood Sony Pictures Classics films 2002 directorial debut films American independent films 2002 independent films Sundance Film Festival award winners 2000s English-language films Films directed by Todd Louiso 2000s American films