Listen to the Dialogue

Rating: 9/10 (14 February 2005)

This is a film about four people. Well, there are hardly any other character in the whole film except for bystanders. If you watch this on the big screen, you really would have to pay attention as you would not have the benefit of a re-wind button. Most films use flashbacks. This film uses flash forwards. And it jumps from one time frame to another without the benefit of subtitles or any form of announcement or indication. You just have to listen to the dialogues very carefully. For example, the film begins with the meeting of Natalie Portman and Jude Law. The scene 'ends' with Natalie Portman saying "My name is Alice". The next scene 'starts' with Jude Law telling Julia Roberts that he has been living with Natalie Portman for a year. Just one sentence and if you miss that, you would get the whole story absolutely mixed up. This happens throughout the film, in that the scenes are fast forwarded and they usually begin with a sentence from one of the characters. But it is very beautifully done and I enjoy it.
Profanity? I do not see the profanity because it is not profanity when the words used are to tell the story. It is not **** for the sake of using the word ****. The graphic use of 'sex' words are to describe incidents or actions. And they have to be used. For example, an angry man who finds out that his girlfriend has slept with another is not going to say "oh, you made love to him" but screams "you ****ed him!".
The only personal comment I would make is that Jude Law tries to justify everything under the sun. As a man, I would probably do the same in his situation but at the same time, it leaves such a bad taste in the mouth that I want to scream "You hypocritical bastard" and smash his face in. And in doing so, probably look at myself in the mirror and smash the mirror in... but perhaps my face against the mirror, for being a hypocritical piece of useless claim to manhood when it comes to playing with the feelings of Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts, and along the way, messes up Clive Owen.
I recommend this film. But watch it on the DVD so that you may need to re-wind to re-catch certain scenes.