One of the most interesting lines on this thread.. I'm wondering if anyone else has a weird relationship with a movie...
Do you know why? I'm intrigued.
It's a long time since last saw it but my memories of it are that I really love the aethestics of the film. I enjoy looking at it. I like cat & mouse thrillers, (I guess it's one of the things I love about slashers, too, so that's another crossover to something I really love) so the Pacino/De Niro central characters becoming aware of the other and then circling each other works well for me. TBH, Pacino's domestic stuff drags the film for me, but I understand it's needed to mirror De Niro's private life and the complex social lives of some of the main characters means they're not 'just' there or standing about waiting for the job.
The set-pieces work fantastically well, but for some reason that last one around the runways doesn't quite reach those heights, which I think is one of the reasons I don't love the film. The film successfully delivers for me, right up until the climax.
All these things (and possibly more) mean that I see how good a film it is. I do like it, but I just don't/can't love it in the way I feel I should.
It's a bit like a film version of Mila Kunis. She's gorgeous. Beautiful woman, everything is right about her and everyone else seems to love her. I do find her attractive. But I don't fancy her as much as I'd expect to fancy someone who looks as good as her.
If I think of anything else I'll add to it but I hope that gives you some idea of what I mean.