I love the Mike Nichols-ness of the telephoto lens crossing the street (utilized to great effect in Nichols’ The Graduate) opening and closing bookends— also—this is clearly a 4-person chamber piece with roots in the theater much like Nichols’ work Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe and Carnal Knowledge
Beautiful Damien Rice songs
Clive Owen- (amazing from 1998 to 2006) and Natalie Portman fair far better than Julia Roberts (a distant fourth) and Jude Law—the stripping scene between Woen and Portman is likely what earned them justly Oscar noms)
Tremendous writing and ccting- verbal sparring
Owen is epic– brilliant—the scene of him getting dumped. “because I’m a cave man”
Portman’s half-turn with wig in close-up at the club- a great shot
Formal repetition of lying and truths—comparison of animals
I am a little shocked to see some of the comments above praising this film. I understand it is Nichols and a steller main cast, but outside of the acting and a few great shots there is not much positive left to say about this film. The narrative, script, and tone are all over the place. It probably doesn’t help that Nichol’s is choosing to make a sexualized, “edgy” love-triangle drama; using a play’s script that won a Tony for best comedy… The film’s script certainly still reads like a comedic play, yet the film is cringe humor at best.
Idk, maybe the absurdity of the narrative is something I just cannot get past. Which is something I can often do for exceptional films (reccomended or better).
I am a little shocked to see some of the comments above praising this film. I understand it is Nichols and a steller main cast, but outside of the acting and a few great shots there is not much positive left to say about this film. The narrative, script, and tone are all over the place. It probably doesn’t help that Nichol’s is choosing to make a sexualized, “edgy” love-triangle drama; using a play’s script that won a Tony for best comedy… The film’s script certainly still reads like a comedic play, yet the film is cringe humor at best.
Idk, maybe the absurdity of the narrative is something I just cannot get past. Which is something I can often do for exceptional films (reccomended or better).