Nearly flawless, marred by miscasting

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2004)

This film is that rarity of rarities in mainstream films: a film about intelligent, articulate adults that is emotionally honest. This can probably be credited primarily to Mike Nichols, who has never flinched from depicting lacerating emotional honesty in his films ("Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," "Carnal Knowledge"). The screenplay, adapted from a play by its author, is first rate, giving us dialogue that represents how urban adults actually talk to one another, and it can be forgiven the contrived way in which it depicts the meeting between the Law and Portman characters, unfortunately reminiscent of Jennifer Lopez in "The Wedding Planner." Fortunately, that happens in the very beginning of the film and as we get involved in the characters we can forget about it.
Much of the credit for the film's success can go to the actors, especially Owen, Law, and Portman. Owen, whom I have never seen before, is a dynamo and probably the nastiest character in the film. He seems to delight in spewing verbal invective. Yet, he is still able to display emotional vulnerability. Law plays down his sex symbol image and plays another rotter who enjoys playing nasty tricks on people. Portman is simply fantastic playing a seemingly emotionally vulnerable and needy young woman who is not as innocent as she seems.
The films principal, and only, serious flaw is the casting of Julia Roberts as Anna, perhaps the pivotal character in the film. I have read that Cate Blanchett was first cast in the part, but then withdrew. This is a pity; Roberts is totally miscast. Yes, she's beautiful, but she plays Anna with such emotional coldness that it's a mystery why two men like Law and Owen would become obsessed by her. They react to her as they might to a sexual dynamo, which she definitely isn't in this film. Perhaps if she brought a bit of the vulgarity she did to playing Erin Brockovitch to this role, their obsession might be understandable. It might be even more understandable with a different actress. But in spite of this flaw, it's a memorable film. 9/10