Scathing look at two couples

Rating: 8/10 (12 December 2004)

This is one of those films that will undoubtedly make casual viewers feel uncomfortable and I think the reason for that is that the script depicts it's characters baring they're basic self in a manner that isn't contrived. Story takes place in London where we first see an obituary writer named Dan (Jude Law) meet a young and pretty American girl named Alice (Natalie Portman) who's a stripper from New York and they end up having a relationship that inspires him to write a book. While Dan is getting his picture taken he starts to flirt with the photographer Anna (Julia Roberts) who is attracted to him but she meets Alice who instantly notices the attraction between them.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
After living together for a year Dan tells Alice that he has been having an affair with Anna and that they are breaking up. Meanwhile, Anna explains the same thing to her husband Larry (Clive Owen) who forces her to tell him their intimate details in an explosive confrontation. Things get complicated over the next few years as Larry finds Alice working in some strip joint and keeps wanting her to tell the truth about who she really is and Anna who stuns Dan by getting back with her husband. Larry tells him that he should get back with Alice because she really loves him but before he leaves he tells Dan that he also slept with her.
This film is directed by the great Mike Nichols who has tread on material like this before with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Carnal Knowledge" but the script here by Patrick Marber is definitely a darker look at relationships. Marber's script is from his play and like other character studies this film is chock full of brutal honesty in the dialog. The actors are up to the task and while some may think Roberts is slightly miscast I found her more than holding her own and reminding us that she should be considered for more than just romantic comedies. While Law is on screen for the majority of the time (and is very good) the performances that standout come from Owen and Portman. Owen's character not only has a dark side but is always within a word or two of being verbally abusive which is in contrast to what critics usually say about him. As an actor, Owen has been called anything from brooding to complacent but here he's nothing short of explosive and it's a performance that should raise some eyebrows. Over the past few years Portman has matured as an actress right before our eyes and this role should forever keep anyone from considering her in anything but adult parts. She's a revelation here and Portman displays so many layers to her character that when we find out the secret at the end of the film we feel overcome as we remember some of the previous scenes. This is a dark and angry film about four characters that like to boast about being honest but the one thing that they don't boast about is they're own selfishness when it comes to relationships. It would be easy to dismiss this film because the characters are so unlikable but for me this is the type of film that should be considered the norm. With strong performances and the unabashed portrait of self loathing this is a film that doesn't care what others think and dares you to take a look.