The secret is not to give up hope. It's very hard not to because if you're really doing something worthwhile I think you will be pushed to the brink of hopelessness before you come through the other side.
The sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a movie.
If you've never felt that you quite got a hold of it you just feel that...
Good acting is all in the writing. If it isn't on the page then it really won't make any difference. You cannot act on force of personality alone.