Oh Yes

Regarding my reaction to "Young Adam" (and, frankly, a lot of other movies - the kind Ebert, much as I adore him, is most likely to swoon for).

This puts it just right - and perfectly describes a syndrome I attach to enormous swaths of twentieth century writing, and filmmaking even beyond that period:

Joe's sexuality ... is ... what makes Young Adam feel most dated. Its view of male narcissism, as expressed through erotic need, is not only uncritical but also pretentious. The film follows the novel (and many others like it) in assuming, rather than proving, that its hero's selfishness and failure offer clues to the human condition.

A. O. Scott, NY Times

Yeap. Tha's it.