Just saw it. Knew it was critically acclaimed, but irrelevant at the box office.
I can't tell you if this is a movie you'll enjoy. If you're at all thoughtful, or educated (I spent plenty of time in philosophy classes, with Camus' "The Stranger"), or just want to know why seemingly good people do bad things, I'd recommend you put this on your Netflix list.
There are NO heroes in this movie. Everyone is at least a little broken. All star cast:
Don Cheadle, Kevin Spacey, Jena Malone, Ryan Gosling, Lena Olin, Chris Klein, Michelle Williams, Kerry Washington, even Ann Magnuson (where has SHE been lately?)
Simple story, simply told: a troubled teen (Ryan Gosling) kills a retarded boy (whom he knows). Its the WHY part that is troubling. We spend the movie unravelling his story in flashback. It's about heartbreak, loss, trust, personal motivation... real human issues.
If you pay ANY attention during the film, the climax, especially the last line, will SLAY you.
Selah.