Point taken. I do agree that the first 30 minutes along with many of the individual sub-plots are absolutely riveting and movie-making (including writing) at its best (as stated in my review)! I guess it helps me to think about it in terms of the fact that it was originally written as a TV series. If I look at it as many little "episodes" it is easier for me to accept. Seems like it would have been a great series!
I don't ask that a movie-maker create a nice little package with a tight ending, in fact I prefer movies that let me make the ending myself (Limbo, 1999). I kept trying to do that with this movie and I just feel like I wasn't given all the information (or in this case, too much extemporaneous information).
The fact that I have not been able to get this movie out of my mind, although due to feelings of frustration, probably speaks to the fact that it did indeed have a profound effect on me.