That means Phoenix had a hard time realizing when it was out of control. He didn't want to rock the boat and he didn't want to say that therefore anything goes.
Masterpiece. A Situationnist's bad dream? Hit the sweet spot at its most fundamental unit. Structure & plot may feel disjointed/incomplete, but if/once you get it, you'll get shivers, goosebumps & watery eyes. The absolute mind-fuck at every level & a subtle sublimated subversion