The thing of it is...

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2005)

I'm not sure what I expected from this movie. I've always been a fan of Julia Roberts but never because I thought that she was a great actress. I simply trusted her to be likable and deliver a watchable, cookie-cutter performance. I think Natalie Portman is a timeless beauty, a formidable actress who reminds me more and more of Audrey Hepburn. She is an old soul with a childlike quality that draws you into her. Clive Owen is perfect. He is handsome, rugged, masculine, and a wonderful actor. Jude Law I have never liked. The first movie that I saw him in, The Talented Mr. Ripley, solidified my critical opinion of him. And yes, I have seen his other movies, I "heart" Huckabee, etc. He was OK in them, tolerable, but nothing more than that.
This movie changes my opinion of all of them. It forces all of these actors to deliver performances that every other actor should be jealous of. They reached someplace very deep, dark and real and in turn we are left emotion so raw that it feels like you are watching a stage play. They make demands of themselves and on each other that makes me believe that they truly understand. Often I am left empty after watching these beautiful Hollywood personas "act" a role that I know they cannot relate to. The writing in this movie/play is so good that no matter your station in life or lack of experience with the drama and passion that unfolds on the screen before you, you cannot help but believe that they get it. All four of them understand the essential theme of the movie and use their character to portray that understanding.