priscilla-hopkins

This movie is about four of the coldest, cruelest people who will ever meet, trying to experience the joys of love and intimacy. It is set into several scenes showing major changes in the character's relationships. The "in-between" parts are never shown. There is little in the way of action and much in the way of dialog. Its origins as a play are very evident. There is hardly anyone else of significance in the movie except these four characters. The writing and acting are engrossing. You will come out of the theater wanting to talk to someone about love, betrayal and relationships. Natalie Portman has grown to be quite and actress. Julia Roberts shows herself here to be capable of more than a pretty smile and lighthearted comedies. Jude Law is very attractive and you can see what these women see in him. Clive Owen is the real standout in the cast. His tormented, somewhat-less-attractive man is so desperate for love and affirmation, it practically bleeds through the screen. These characters fall in and out of love and lust, never really connecting.

The vocal inflections and mannerisms on RJ and Natalie were picture-perfect! The actors must have studied hours of video to get those! The production used lots of stills of the actors, but I would have liked to have seen some live clips, as I had forgotten some of the very good movies she had done. I particularly would have liked to have seen some of her work as a child before "Miracle on 34th Street" made her a star. I also would have liked more clues as to who some of the people were in her professional life. Some of the main characters were identified, but many others were left up to the viewers imagination to fill in the blanks. At times the actors did not that closely resemble their real-life counterparts, and I had to wonder who they were. I really had no idea who the actor was suppossed to be that raped her, for instance. His full face was shown, as if to give the viewer a clue, but I couldn't figure it out.

The tango scenes were absorbing. But they seemed to be just kluged on to a movie about an aging, warm-hearted gangster. I kept waiting for something to tie these seemingly disparate plot lines together. Nothing ever did. See it to admire a great actor. See it to admire some wonderful dancing and scenery. Just don't try to make sense of it.