Brave choices make good actors into great actors.

Rating: 10/10 (27 February 2006)

Much has been said about this sensitive four-hander. To work with Mike Nichols must have a lot to do with it, but the courage shown by Portman and Owen in accepting very difficult roles will pay dividends. Great acting has much to do with taking on roles that will test and challenge. Both Portman and Owen have huge talents yet I have never seen either stretched this far. They both were brilliant. They will be better for this and it will give them courage to accept future, difficult roles like these, so totally against type. Law and Roberts were in more comfortable territory and obliged well. Roberts devours the lens with her great beauty. Actually, I find her to be so beautiful it really is huge distraction from what's going on! The great virtuoso performances of the past from actors such as Brando and Olivier have all been hugely difficult roles but the great actor has the guts to tale on the role and make it real and truthful. How long did Olivier think about how he was going to play Richard or Archie Rice? Both very difficult roles that many lesser lights would avoid because of the degree of difficulty involved. Portman and Owen are going to be bigtime if they keep it up. On a lighter note,Miss Portman's world class callypygean charm was pretty sensational.