i finally finished watching this today. it took about 4 separate viewings because i kept falling asleep (not because i was bored, but because i've only been able to put it on at really late hours).
i really really liked it -- the first half hour was like Brazil meets Ikiru meets Sleepless In Seattle (or some other Tom Hanks romantic comedy). and i was impressed that the film kept up its wry/meta tone to the very end. it was the only thing that made the big mortality theme convincing, especially given the genre it was twisting up.
i loved the implications of the three Meg Ryans, as if there was nothing necessarily special about the blonde one--Joe could've easily fallen in love with someone else, if only he'd opened his eyes.
finally, i actually thought the island sequence clinched the preceding hour or so. when it came it was suddenly hurtling towards the end of the film, and even though we'd been expecting these scenes all along, they felt dreamlike, like an expressionistic portrayal of the shortness of life. i loved that the camera never dwelled on either the island weirdos or the burgenoning love b/n those two. it kept the focus on Joe's impending 'death' and made one question whether it (what we saw of his life & relationships in the film so far) had all been worth it.
oh, and i thought the part with the giant moon was pretty moving. anyway, thanks for the rec, what a strange & wonderful film.
