It's a really great film, has kind of been forgotten in a way but seeing it again recently reminded me how terrific it was. One of the few films to deserve its Best Picture Oscar.

Curiously though, I note how some of the main people involved in it have seen their careers slide since then (Wes Bentley, Thora Birch), or have barely been in a decent film since (Kevin Spacey) or have directed two films which had Oscar buzz until they were released and everyone saw them (Sam Mendes). The film is perhaps jinxed XD - though Chris Cooper hasn't done badly since then.