One of the best of 2004

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2007)

Directed by Mike Nichols just after the heartbreaking mini series Angels In America, and starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen, this "little" movie had everything to become a great masterpiece ... And it actually did ! The directing is wonderful demonstration of rediscovered virtuosity, the dialogue, written by Patrick Marber from his play, are filled with venom and cruelty, and finally ... what can I say about the cast, except that it fulfills all of our hopes : Julia Roberts has never been so sober and tormented (she proves once again that Mary Reilly was only a little mistake on her "drama" list), Jude Law shows an incredible skill at playing both seduction and vulnerability. Now let's talk about the strangely lovable manipulators that are Natalie Portman and Clive Owen. With strength and ambiguity, they give to Alice and Larry all the raw charm and the false naivety that they need. From one scene to another, they reveal themselves to the viewers, who are, naturally, totally overturned.