Well, it may have been representative of its day, but as of 12/27/05, it's grown pretty tedious.  It has one thing to say, that could be said in about 10 minutes, but it spreads the "message" out over way too long. The ending is truly shocking, and somewhat redeems the tedium of the earlier parts of the film that tend to drag, drag, drag.  Jack Nicholson is, of course, the bright spot in the film, but he's in waaaaay to little of it.