"Everybody wants to be happy." "Depressives don't. They want to be unhappy to confirm they're depressed. If they were happy they couldn't be depressed anymore. They'd have to go out into the world and live. Which can be depressing."
Nobody in Closer is happy. I wouldn't say they are depressed either, but I'm not a psychiatrist. They seem to occupy some kind of middle ground where they push on with their lives no matter how much crap is thrown at them. Most of it is thrown at them from each other though, and half the time, they bring it upon themselves. Nobody is happy in this film, but nobody deserves to be.
By the end of Closer, I felt entirely drained. I hadn't just experienced an exhilarating thrill-ride, but rather two hours of warfare fought between four soldiers. Nobody wins or loses this kind of battle, but everyone gets wounded. Closer is brutal to watch because of this. All the characters do is hurt each other. They could stop at any minute, but instead they keep on doing it as if they know nothing else.
From the first few scenes of the film, it appears that we are heading down a much more formulaic route. Dan (Jude Law) meets Alice (Natalie Portman) after she gets knocked down by a taxi in front of him. I would say they fall in love with each other, but that just seems like the wrong word. Everything seems fine until we are introduced to another couple, Anna (Julia Roberts) and Larry (Clive Owen). Their lives inevitably become intertwined, but to detail how wouldn't do justice to the film.
Director Mike Nichols isn't allowed to let his actors act. He doesn't interrupt scenes in any way, so if you're of the MTV jump cut generation, you might want to pass. The film is played out episodically, each vignette focusing on just two of the characters as we watch them spar with some of the sharpest dialog in years, before moving onto the next. Sure, it isn't particularly flashy, but it works perfectly for the tone as we can just watch these characters play out their games. The camera is never judgemental toward them; we have to decide who to side with. Nothing here is simple.
By the end of it, we like no one, and if you do, you're colder than I am. Everybody in this film does several things that any decent person shouldn't be able to. Does that make this a weaker film? Not at all, simply because there are people out there who would act like this. It's a testament to the actors that even though we hate what they are doing to each other, we don't want to look away. This isn't because of the car crash factor, but rather that their performances run through so many emotions in the course of each scene we have to see how the next one will top it.
Natalie Portman and Clive Owen recently picked up Golden Globe wins for their performances in this film. It's certainly appropriate, as they are the strongest here. Clive Owen particularly surprised me with this film, largely because I've only ever regarded him as being a plank of wood until now. Law and Roberts are also excellent, but that shouldn't be so much of a surprise to those that have seen much of their earlier work.
Closer is brutal viewing, but compelling viewing at the same time. If you're idea of a good film is merely something that should be enjoyed and used to relax, this isn't going to work for you as it's just too demanding. Looking beyond though, if you're willing to spend two hours with characters that you'll dislike by the end of it, you'll find some thrilling conversation (not a paradox, I assure you) presented by some perfect acting.
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Production Year: 1977 - Drama - Director: Franco Zeffirelli - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Anne Bancroft, Robert Powell, Rod Steiger, James Mason, Michael York, Laurence Olivier
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Giles Foster - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Emily Mortimer, Joanna Lumley, Peter O'Toole
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Four extremely beautiful people do extremely horrible things to one another inCloser, Mike ... more
Nichols' pungent adaptation of Patrick Marber's play that easily marks the Oscar-winning director's best work in years. Anna (Julia Roberts) is a photographer wh...
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Director Mike Nichols (Working Girl, The Graduate) brings Patrick Marber's highly ... more
acclaimed theatrical tour de force Closer to the screen. An uncompromisingly honest look at modern relationships, Closer is the story of four strangers (Julia Roberts, Ju...
Four extremely beautiful people do extremely horrible things to one another inCloser, Mike ... more
Nichols' pungent adaptation of Patrick Marber's play that easily marks the Oscar-winning director's best work in years. Anna (Julia Roberts) is a photographer wh...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![Closer [DVD] [2004]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78484994.jpg "Closer [DVD] [2004]")
Jan 24th, 2005
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