Excellent but underrated film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Wonderful performances and good direction and editing can't save this exercise in sophomoric foolishness. I am always mystified when glowing reviews appear for stories that lack credibility and logic. Tabak gets points for attempting to create a different slant on a man who re-examines his life after a near death experience and doesn't like what he sees, but he backslides when he expects us to believe that this man is going to more enjoy living as an ex-con and taking up with the ex-con's sweet but obviously ditzy pen pal/girlfriend. There are more convincing ways for a man with resources to relieve the boredom and apathy in his life than by deliberately taking up residence in a world where all who live there are trying to escape before they drown in their own doldrums. Instead of helping those in line behind him, Goldblum's character simply moves to the back of the line, but for what? There is no virtue, redemption, or fascinating conclusion in this regression. In fact, the journey is pointless, except as a snapshot of what a 20 year old's rebel fantasy that he'll "never get caught up in middle class b.s." might look like. Most of the time, I felt I was watching a man having a very quiet nervous breakdown, but no, we are reminded again and again that all that is happening is normal behavior. My 4 stars are for the fine acting all around. This movie is a very good study of how highly competent actors can spin gold out of nothing so that while you're watching it, you have the feeling you're looking at something worthwhile. Afterward, you realize how silly it all was.

Pretty nice movie to see, not much special surprises but still deserves a 6/10 for the plot and for Goldblum's nice performance. The cop in the movie does a good job checking up on his work. It's nice to see but don't get anyones hopes up on this one. Nice and easy to watch with a beer and a couple of friends. You still have to listen since sometimes you won't know who Goldblum really is.

Jeff Goldblum is known for his quirky characters and his off kilter delivery. Once again his quirkiness works in this small gem of a movie. Having no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by this tale of mistaken identity and rebirth. Jeff Goldblum plays John Nolan, an insurance executive in Armani suits and a rather nice car. His life seems to be idyllic, if not a bit stalled, when a bottle of wine and a bullet change everything. Nolan finds himself drawn to the life and death of a store clerk until he slowly begins to assume the man's life. Why would a successful business man want to step into the shoes of an ex-con? Goldblum's performance makes this life change subltly understandable. Anne Heche, craziness aside, has always been a fine actress and she is great here as the ex-con's pen pal. Sweet and naive she believes in this man and her capriciousness is contagious. She leaves her small town life to live with a man she's never met, but he's not the man she thinks he is. Check this one out for yourself.

"Augie Rose" tells of a life insurance salesman (Goldblum) who assists a dying deli clerk (Augie Rose) after a stickup gone bad. Caught in the shootout, the near death experience for the Goldblum character awakens something in him which sets in motion some very peculiar events. This drama-lite production is obviously staged and too theatrical to taken for realism. However, the story is sufficiently intriguing and quirky to hold interest as it wends it way to a conclusion well worth waiting for. A fun little movie with good chemistry between Goldblum and Heche. Kudos to Kabak for this gem.