I don't get it

I cannot for the life of me understand all the 5 star reviews. This film comprises a rediculously unbelieveable script populated with unbelieveable, 2-dimensional, cliched characters and executed with heavy, wooden performances. Is this what happens when artistic folk conspire to create "gritty" and "real" drama. The total running time of nearly two and a half hours makes this ham-fisted effort almost unwatchable.