For the first 2 hours I really didn't know what to think about this: I appreciated the craft but plot lines felt like depicting a painting without the brushes acquiring a significance. Then, in the last hour, PTA pulled the wires beautifully, diving deeper into the characters and deeper into their connection.
William H. Macy, John C. Reilly and Melora Walters were especially outstanding. Tom Cruise as well - I couldn't have imagined the depth of his portrayed character after having seen him till the interview, which was a greatly made turning point.
Both the speech at the gas station and Jim/Claudia date and frailty coming out and together was touching, as the final smile and hopefully healing.
"I really do have love to give, I just don't know where to put it" was heartbreaking and probably the single line that struck me most in the whole movie