What's so great about truth? Try lying for a change -- It's the currency of the world....That Closer is a film about the shifting ties between two very good-looking couples (played by Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman) does not entail that this is a date movie; in fact, there is nothing remotely romantic about it at all.
---- Daniel (Jude Law) to Anna (Julia Roberts).
Director Mike Nichols (Angels In America, Wit) has successfully translated Patrick Marber's play of the same name to the big screen with much success. There is much to appreciate in the gritty dialogue of the characters as they explore the depths of their feelings for one another whilst coping with infidelities. Granted, their conversations are more erudite than that of real people, but that's to be expected since Closer is adapted from a play. The film's settings seem almost intimate as there are never more than two main characters per scene, yet by the time the show has progressed mid-way, this seeming closeness has become rather claustrophic and, to a certain extent, even threatening.Julia Roberts and Jude Law, both A-list Hollywood actors with impressive credentials, give surprisingly subdued performances which work well within the context of the film. Roberts, whose movie roles have always been rather loud and obnoxious (to me, at least) shows how less could be better and certainly, I've never seen her this good before. However, it is actually Clive Owen and Natalie Portman who shine most in this film, even earning Oscar nominations for their effort; they have the best lines and scenes. Portman, especially, has blossomed into quite a credible actress, (definitely a far-cry from her Queen Amidala role!) displaying much finesse as her character transforms from naive and lovestruck, to jaded and cold by film's end.
As the four characters whose love-lives intertwine, Law, Roberts, Portman and Owen's characters cheat, lie and hurt each other with alarming brutality, but seldom do we actually hear any of them mention that L-word in a romantic circumstance. AND, there are no love-scenes in this film either... In the end, it's really just a film about four selfish, dishonest and manipulative people who know their partners well enough to perceive which buttons to push yet still manage to appear genuinely hurt in the process of being cruel.
You will walk away from Closer with a bad taste in your mouth and feeling quite rotten about relationships in general but honestly, you will end up liking the crisp and intelligent screenplay anyway. my ratings ---- 4/5 stars!!!
Where is this love? I can't see it, I can't touch it, I can't feel it. I can hear it... I can hear some words, but I can't do anything with your easy words...
---- Alice (Natalie Portman) to Daniel.
