Tired formulaic drama enlivened by excellent acting (J.R. excepted)

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2007)

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed by this movie. It was rich, stupid people acting stupidly and self-indulgently and then wondering why they hurt. That said, the acting, Julia Roberts excepted, is cathartic and rescues what could be a dull, particularly inert, self- indulgent film. From glancing over several of the comments, this film apparently first existed as a play. This seems sensible; the film is set in close quarters and thereby its existence as a play seems sensible. Two of the characters I found sympathy for and two of them I found really abhorrent. Julia Roberts' Anna is an artist who has very little will of her own. Jude Law is a deceitful, manipulative con-man struggling journalist named Dan who will engage in almost any ruse to get a woman in bed. Natalie Portman's Alice is a free-spirited stripper who is open-minded but ultimately lonely and while she might be able to maintain her independence and playfulness for some time, makes bad decisions in the end based on her need for companionship. Finally, Clive Owen's Larry is a blunt-speaking doctor who is possibly honest to a fault. He outlines his love for a woman also too early and his seemingly deep wells of passion possibly unnerve women who look for an ulterior motive when he is really just a straight-shooter. Initially, Dan charms Alice and they stay together for some while. However, on a routine errand, Dan becomes involved with Anna and while she seems uncomfortable with the arrangement, they nevertheless become involved in a high-wire particularly explosive relationship. Larry is a rock but flirts with Alice after learning where she works from speaking to Anna. Their interaction is flirtatious and electric, indeed, this reflecting on the stellar abilities of Owen and Portman, but not combustible. This is just flirting by people who are very good at it. Their relationship is consequently not as fiery or combative. In contrast, the tempestuousness of Dan and Anna's relationship and their dishonesty with their partners takes a toll on them and their relationship.
The endgame seems to be a fair resolution of their behavior up to that point. The performances are all fantastic, except, as mentioned Julia Roberts. She seems to have only one mode in this film and it is morose. While of course that is fine for some of the film, there are electric moments of transcendence and passion when it would seem that her million-dollar grin and some of her famous charm might have made more of a display. Clive Owen lends a great deal of honesty, charm, and possibly desperation underlying it all, and Natalie Portman is electric as a vivacious and charismatic, if achingly insecure girl. Jude Law has never played such a deplorable character. His character is such a chauvinistic, two-faced cad one wonders that any woman would be deceived. However, it is testament to the desperation of the female characters in the movie and Law's considerable charm that he is able to sell this combination of characteristics as a successful ladies' man.
Again, the story is rather formulaic-successful if conflicted people who behave as though they own the world and take chances with other peoples' hearts and then are surprised when they find themselves in pain and hurting others. However, as mentioned (and the directing is good. Mike Nichols allows his talented actors to work their magic here and lets the story tell itself) the galvanic acting ultimately distinguishes this film.