>if you it had ended with "Fatima sets up shop. complications
>ensue" that would have been fine by me.
>
>but the way the whole corporate intrigue storyline just pops
>up again after being completely thrown to the wayside for what
>felt like 3 hours... i felt like i had been abruptly shunted
>into a different films.
>
>and then you have characters who exist for no reason other
>than to make a point and speechify... John Turturro's
>character leaps to mind first. and let's not even get into the
>drug-addled casting choice that would put him in the role of
>Bellucci's dad.
>
>and Bellucci's character was another strange digression. (did
>Spike receive French funding to finish this film? that's the
>only reason i can think of for La Bellucci and Jamel Debbouze
>being so awkwardlt crowbarred into the film)

Bellucci is Italian. I'll see just about anything she's in & I'm sure I'm not the only one. That might've been the reason she was selected. Jamel Debbouze is credited as a producer.