Nearer, My God! To Thee

Rating: 7/10 (21 January 2005)

I actually saw the play twice - once in preview and once when it opened - at the National Theatre in London when Clive Owen played the obit writer that Jude Law attempts here. Alas, he falls a little short, about from here to Mindaneo short, but luckily Natalie Portman is on hand to light up the screen. There's a curious imbalance in the film with Portman and Owen completely dominating Law and Roberts so that the overall effect is like a game of mixed doubles with McEnroe and Navratilova playing Henman and Barker. The dialogue is as coruscating as it was in the play and although the 'opening out' dilutes the intensity it's still effective. Not necessarily one that will stand up to a repeat viewing, unlike say, Million Dollar Baby, but certainly one to see.