The movie boasts a large ensemble cast comprised of recognizable performers, all delivering competent work… but lacking genuine feeling and anchored by a script that’s overly complex, making it difficult to follow. I tend to be quite harsh on movies with flawed or weak writing; it's an issue I see repeatedly in cinema. This film takes the opposite approach: the screenplay is simply too much, packed with numerous characters and interwoven storylines to the point where charting them out might almost be necessary to understand what’s happening. I struggled for a good portion of the runtime just trying to keep track of who everyone was. The story opens with helicopters dispersing something over Los Angeles. As someone quite young when this film came out, I needed to look into it to discover they were spraying an insecticide to control flies—something I'd never witnessed in an urban setting. From there, the movie introduces us to a multitude of characters and their daily lives: several middle-class couples facing typical problems, a limousine driver married to someone who works in a cafeteria, one of the helicopter pilots, an operator for an adult phone line with a family… and we observe these individuals dealing with everyday challenges. The film aims to present a depiction of ordinary people and their experiences, but it does so in a detached and impersonal manner, failing to evoke any real emotional connection from the audience. Even the subplot that attempts to explore more emotionally charged territory—involving a child—becomes overly sentimental and loses believability. Technically, the film is understated, avoiding flashy elements. The cinematography reflects the standards of the time, the special effects are functional rather than remarkable, and the sets and costumes are unremarkable. The editing is well-executed, but the movie's length—nearly three hours—becomes somewhat exhausting, largely because it’s hard to truly invest in what we're seeing. What ultimately redeems this film is its impressive cast of talented actors, and how each one individually delivers a solid dramatic performance. It almost feels like an exhibition of Hollywood talent from the early 90s. Bruce Davison, Fred Ward, Lily Tomlin, Tom Waits, Anne Archer, Andie MacDowell, Chris Penn, Robert Downey Jr., Lily Taylor, Madeleine Stowe, Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Julianne Moore, Peter Gallagher, Matthew Modine, Frances McDormand… if you can think of a well-known actor, they're in it! Everyone is present and giving their best effort, but ultimately working separately. The film functions as a commendable dramatic exercise, allowing each performer to showcase their abilities. Nonetheless, it’s deficient in emotion, commitment, and intensity.

Source on TMDB