I saw "The Grifters" in 1990 when it came out. I was blown away then, and I was moved even more this time, I think. Luckily for me, I tend to forget details of plots and themes. So that when I see a film again 15 years later, it's like watching it for the first time, but with just a pinch of knowledge.
What an extraordinary cast...John Cusack, Annette Bening and the magnificent Angelica Houston. Their gears mesh like a fine tuned watch. It's directed by Steven Frears, who also did the darkly provocative "Dirty Pretty Things." He melds decades in such a way that he creates a unique combination of the best of noir from the '40's, 50's, up to the 80's.
Great story, great acting, great directing, great writing. I loved it all over again.
And for the boys, you get to see a whole lot of a young Annette Bening, a whole lot!
If you haven't seen it, go for it. If you saw it a while ago, rent it again.