Easy to respect,tough to like

Rating: 6/10 (19 April 2005)

This film,about the revolving relationships between two couples,is a very heady and strong effort by all involved,but it is tough to feel much sympathy or likability for nearly everyone involved. Julia Roberts' Anna can't seem to be trusted to hold onto a relationship,Jude Law's Dan can't be trusted to do the right thing once in one,Clive Owen's Larry is a thick-headed professional sort who can't seem to decide whether or not he's truly in love with either Annd or Alice,and Natalie Portman's Alice(probably the most sympathetic of the bunch)is so fragile and delicate that she's always on the verge of dropping a relationship at the turn of an emotion.
I've read one review that says that this movie is "as real as it gets". Really? How many random foursomes of people in a large city(in this case,London)constantly go pin-balling back and forth between each other,regardless of the fact that they are both so cruel to each other in the first place? I would wager that here are very real elements of real life relationships in this movie,but as a whole,the personal dynamics of this film are much more convoluted than what you would ordinarily get in a true life interchange of couples.
The acting is strong,and the writing seems better suited for the stage. Certainly not bad enough to give a low rating,but not worth a rave,either.