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The first time I watched this, I found it half cringeworthy, half intriguing. It's a bit too deliberately salacious and overly dramatic at times; and the film only shows the pivotal moments in each of the relationships between the characters, it loses out on some opportunities for having more emotional depth. If you like dramas that explore themes relating to sexuality and relationships, though, there are definitely aspects of this movie that are also very interesting about it. Clive Owens' and Natalie Portman's characters are definitely the stronger characters in this film, which is probably why they both won Golden Globe Awards and Academy Award Nominations as the supporting actors in this film.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This movie was reviewed in top newspapers and magazines (eg New York Times) and two of the actors (Portman and Owens) were nominated for Golden Globe and Oscar awards. I watched this movie a year after the hype because I had recalled that it was about relationships, was directed by renowned Mike Nichols (husband of Diane Sawyer) and starred phenomenal actors. I recalled from the reviews that the relationships had a tortuous element. This was born out in the film. What I was not prepared for was the gratuitous use of the f-word, the c-word and a scene in which two men are on the internet at a porn site and we see their typed expressions of sexual phantasies expressed in porn language. This scene does not last long but it is near the beginning of the movie. Another shocking scene viewers might like to be aware of , which I did not think advanced the plot or character development, was a scene where one of the characters(Owens) encounters the stripper character (Portman) at her place of employment. The message is that no matter how much money is paid it is all about look but don't touch, no intimacy, no truly knowing the real person. Apart from those risque scenes the rest of the shock value is in language. As I recall there are no actual scenes of sex or violence. Pain is inflicted by words and the telling of acts (of infidelity). Everybody's timing is off - they love too late, or love is unrequited. Twenty four hours later I found myself still contemplating the movie - it made me think. It is a cautionary tale. As a woman married 34 years I would say there is an alternative to the lives of these individuals - it is a pedestrian view of love, which plods on when love appears absent, dim or obscured, only to find around a corner or past a turn in the road that love has returned again as surely as sun after rain.Read full review
This film really has a masterful way of showing you the mind of others when cheating begins and the effects. It shows the limits of when one will cut the cancer of the pain someone else has caused and how they may or may not replace it with a another painful vice that they may bring to themselves or others.... and Why?.... Because in one moment someone was too selfish self consumed with entertaining a moment that could lead to MOMENTS of a feel good, short lived, interest that has no depth. If love is made to endure it forces the viewer to ask themselves the question how long would they like to endure and if forever then considers always your mate. ALWAYS. You see how some connect and relate but not completely to love. How some respond to love and how they could avoid an uneccessary brew if they thought long enough for thier other spirit or half. It takes great inner spiritual strength to forgive this type of behavior. Which one could say the lack of grace or opportunity of reconciling did not demonstrate the strength of the love that was supposedly there. I would have like to see a sequal that goes throught the storm with at one couple that endured the slight and learned not to do it again.Read full review
I didn't like it the first time, but it WORTH A SECOND VIEWING I bought this DVD because of all the stars. I watched it once and really thought it was not my cup of tea... I really didn't like it. But then yesterday, when looking for something to watch I pulled this flick out and was amazingly surprised. It was really good, and full of gripping stuff. I must have been having a bad day the first time. I mean yes there are some unrealistic moments, but the second viewing really made me appreciate the dialog, the intense emotions and the reasoning behind the male dominance thing. I totally got it the second time. Its really important to pay attention to the dialog, cause its really a cerebral movie. Give it a watch or two… this one delivers. MR **If you found this information at all helpful, please take a moment to select the "yes" button below. The more people that select the "yes" button, the better the chance this REVIEW is seen by more eBay members.Read full review
I really can recommend this movie for those of you who are open-minded & not closed-minded. This is a movie that surprised even me in the way that it turned out. It was fitting how it ended. There are people out there who get what they want with another partner & completely blow it never knowing just how miserable & unhappy they really are. It is true that another person cannot make you happy. This applies to this movie whole-heartedly. I was very happy & very sad watching this movie. It is a feeling type of movie. If you don't want to feel. Don't buy it. If you are curious, by all means buy it! I loved it & would recommend it.
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