Basically, this film only works because Ava Gardner is Ava Gardner. 

A genuinely inspired piece of filmmaking. The sort of film where labelling it an “acid trip” would be lazy, but it can’t resist the moniker. It doesn’t all work, but it doesn’t all have to, Gardner is presiding over the storm dictating where the raindrops land. And when they do land, they make a splash that rings both dull and exhilarating at once. I’m mixing metaphors, who cares? This film doesn’t care.

Basically, this film only works because Ava Gardner is Ava Gardner. 

A genuinely inspired piece of filmmaking. The sort of film where labelling it an “acid trip” would be lazy, but it can’t resist the moniker. It doesn’t all work, but it doesn’t all have to, Gardner is presiding over the storm dictating where the raindrops land. And when they do land, they make a splash that rings both dull and exhilarating at once. I’m mixing metaphors, who cares? This film doesn’t care.