By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.9
Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Clive Owen | Jude Law | Julia Roberts | Natalie Portman
Country: italy, spain, united_kingdom
Year: 2004
Running time: 108
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376541/combined
Janet says: “Just got back from the Embassy Cinema after seeing this film about a quartet of lovers who lust after and betray one another, and I’m very excited about it. I’m not a Julia fan—every time I see her I wonder, what’s all the fuss about?— but Natalie Portman was quite affecting (another meet-cute doctor’s waiting room scene!), and Clive Owen (now sporting distracting Hollywood-white teeth) makes a little masterpiece of every scene he’s in.
“The film feels very much like the stage play that it is—almost entirely indoors and with most of the scenes as a dialogue between lovers or rivals. You can practically feel the stage lights going down after every scene. But the production values are great and the music is particularly effective, especially in a scene involving Internet sex.
“This film feels intelligent to me, but from a philosophical point of view I can’t understand why the lovers sometimes behave as cruelly and dishonestly as they do. Power? Malice? Insecurity? Self-sabotage? Existential dread? Would make a great double bill with Untold Scandal.
“4.5 cats and a nom for Clive Owen”
Hilary says: “I was less impressed with CLOSER as a whole, but echo Janet’s sentiment that Clive Owen is the star of this film. His brutual intensity is both scary and engaging. I also agree that his teeth were a bit distracting, though they looked so big that it reinforced the notion that he was an animal. I wondered if the teeth were Hollywood’s influence, or supposed to be part of his character’s program to rise above his working-class roots.
“I’ve never been impressed by Julia Roberts, didn’t find ERIN BROCKOVICH to be a revelation, and felt that she was rather miscast. Much as with Chris O’Donnell in KINSEY, it was just too jarring with her persona when she spoke explicitly about sex. I had a hard time buying that her m.o. in romantic/sexual relationships was to be degraded.
“Natalie Portman shows real promise as she graduates to adult roles. Except for the Star Wars Franchise, she seems to make wise decisions in choosing her roles, and I think she could have a strong career ahead of her.
‘Jude Law, as a cad in sensitive man’s clothing, is best in his scene with Owen in which the contrast between their two characters is most apparent.
“3 cats for the film, Best Actor nom for Clive Owen.”
Bruce says: “My guffaw was totally spontaneous when I saw Jude Law sitting in front of an aquarium in a waiting room. With no other clues I knew exactly where he was and why he was there. Unfortunately no one else was laughing, unfortunate because I thought it was a delicious moment, the type we see too infrequently with films as pensive and sobering as CLOSER.
“CLOSER is the story of two British males and two American females who have more than one too many physical relationships. Jude Law is Dan, a failed journalist who works in his paper’s obituary department. Alice (Natalie Portman) is the girl he helps when she is hit by a car. Julia Roberts is Anna, a successful portrait photographer who meets Dan during a photo shoot. Larry (Clive Owen) is a doctor who meets Dan on-line in a sex chat room. None of the four characters come close to anyone I would like to know. This film has a lot in common with WE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE. It is difficult to believe that people can behave so badly then rationalize that behavior in even worse ways. The four men in both films do exactly that. What is it about the male ego that feels it is OK to be unfaithful as long as redemption is a mere confession away, oblivious to the fact that no victim of infidelity ever feels better when the “sex offender” has finally confessed? And what is it about the male ego that believes it is OK to steal another man’s girl, but if his girl ever breaks away from the chastity belt she is soiled goods, a slut, a floozy? If a woman strays, the top priority is to ask her if the other guy is better in bed and if his dick is bigger.
“At the end of the film one of the characters asks ‘what’s so great about the truth?’ The reply is ‘without it we’re animals.’ That, however, is not the message CLOSER has been telegraphing for an hour and a half. Telling the truth is one thing, but using the truth to gain the upper hand sometimes makes us more animal-like than we thought possible. CLOSER is a fascinating film because it allows us to feel superior to the four individuals as they bungle their relationships. It is also made interesting by the superb acting. My favorite actor in the film was Jude Law who I felt had by far the most difficult role. He makes the audience feel sorry for Dan and loathe him at the same time. Law’s performance is far superior to that of Rupert Graves’ passable
but disappointing stage performance. Clive Owen is wonderful as a man who is unapologetic about being a cad. Both men break down and cry in the film which seems sincere but elicits little sympathy from the viewer for they are crying for themselves not for the pain they are inflicting on the women they claim they love.
“Natalie Portman has always had solid acting credentials. She becomes more beautiful and sexy the older she gets. Julia Roberts did a very decent job with her role. She has a problem with that face – that mouth, those eyes overwhelm all her subtleties and nuances. In this case I did find them; I forced myself to look deeper and I liked what I saw. Both Roberts and Law underplay their roles, which is my favorite type of acting. 4 cats”
Thom says: “Yesterday I found time to view CLOSER & I found it really quite amazing. I think it is the only film I’ve ever seen where I disliked all the characters, but still wanted the film to go on when it was over & I can’t quite figure out why. I do usually love well-written character-driven films & the scenes were all excellent. My one major complaint & it’s a big one, was that Julia Roberts was in way over her head. She looked fine but was at sea with her complicated character. Natalie Portman was adequate (Natalie, you might want to start that diet, your thunder thighs might well cause problems in the future). Jude Law was his superb self. But the true revelation was Clive Owen who got the part of a lifetime and ran with it all the way. He deserves an Oscar nomination for sure! (4 cats) It would have been 5 if not for Roberts.”