Witty, funny and thoughtful

Rating: 9/10 (5 December 2004)

Some Spoilers!
I was blown away by this wonderful film. The script was both witty and intelligent. For those that don't believe in the 'realism' of this film, have never truly been in love. Those unfortunate people cannot even imagine the eruption of spiteful and vengeful actions that result from having your heart gutted out by the person you hold dearest to you. I know that if this ever happened to me, I'd want to know all the excruciating details and want revenge, as awful as it sounds, to make the other person feel the same, if not more, pain that he caused me.
The acting was mostly top notch. Julia Roberts, who did NOT deserve the Oscar over the wonderful Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For a Dream, once again fails to show any real range as an actress. She displays one emotion throughout the screen, coldness. She should stick to the bubbly and busty characters she usually plays on the screen. Jude Law is wonderful as always. But it is truly Clive Owen who really knocks this one out of the park. His character is intelligent, calculating and selfish and Owen plays these traits out effortlessly. Natalie Portman has always been a talented individual but, has not yet truly reached her maximum potential as an actress. Her work in this film has solidified her position as a star, yet I feel as though she is lacking the acting ability to play an adult character convincingly. Her youth is still too apparent in her voice and physical actions.
For those that did not get the film, have to look deeper into the words of the characters. This film, was after all, taken from a play and the heart of the characters are in their words not their actions.
This story in intentional and does accurately depict human nature, you just have to look 'closer'.
Alice, a stripper, lives a life fulfilling other people's fantasies. Her work is built on lies so it is no surprise to see her personal life treated in the same respect. Her role as a stripper allows her to have control in the fantasy, it is this control that rules her life. Recall in the beginning of the movie, Alice tells Dan, something along the lines of I will leave you. She only takes him back just so she can assert her need for control.
Dan, the writer of the dead, is so completely uncreative he has to borrow the life of Alice to write his book. His worklife is also driven by lies and it is his eventual search for the truth that collapses his entire world.
Anna, the photographer, makes her living by taking pictures of melancholy people. She is incapable of being happy and wants to live in an unhappy relationship. She thrives on guilt and it becomes her reason for staying.
Larry is selfish and calculating. He is a skin doctor who knows how to get below the surface of a person and give them what they need. He does this with Anna, he does love her, but loves himself more and will do anything to possess her and ruin the lives of those who stand in his way.
The words are indeed the soul of this film. Listen to try and understand 'closer'.
9/10