Half a movie that sparkled

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2007)

One half of this movie was dazzling. That's the Law-Diaz half. Luckily the movie focused on this pair. Diaz wasn't so interesting by herself but as soon as Jude Law showed up she and the movie sparkled with life. Their interactions were light but spot on and they show you what lust is all about.
Diaz's Amanda is a woman with confidence in everything except her emotional life. Diaz without Law appeared rather harsh, but with Law she was great. Jude Law is absolutely the star here, not least because he manages to show both Graham's own vulnerability but also highlights Diaz's. The film is full of little touches that seem implausible on paper but very genuine when on screen. For example, Amanda confesses to Graham her deepest insecurity within 20 minutes of seeing him, i.e. that she is lousy in bed. That sounds so implausible, right? Who would tell that to a stranger? But watch the movie and you'll see that is exactly what a woman like Amanda would do. This movie seems predictable, and in its overall plot it is. But the Law/Diaz interactions sparkle and crackle and pop -- this is on screen romance at its best.
I did not care at all for the Winslet/Black side. The Winslet story was a bore, especially the part with the old guy ranting about the movie industry. Winslet's acting is fine for the most part (she was especially effective being pathetic), but Iris was a drip and the scene of her getting over her old sleazebag flame feels contrived. I snoozed whenever the LA scene showed up. I wish the whole movie was on Law and Diaz then I would've like the whole movie.