I'm not sure what Girl, Interrupted is. More than anything, it feels like an all-female version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but there are some critical differences. There are few if any true villains in the film. It's not even a denunciation of "the system," because, while it is portrayed as flawed with room for error, the film is not about the errors it makes. I'm not sure it's about anything. It touches on various themes, focuses on various characters and relationships, and it has things to say. But it is too distracted by itself, casting its net too widely, and in its attempt to achieve many diverse goals, achieves none of them.

That's not to say the film isn't entertaining, however. If nothing else, it contains a fabulous character brought to life by a fabulous performance by Angelina Jolie. Winona Ryder, the star, is also good, and their scenes together, comprising a substantial chunk of the movie, are always fun to watch.