Closer DVD > Reviews

Advantages: Good cast, interesting examination of 'love'
Disadvantages: Extremely poor script, relies too much on chance and coincidence, can get quite uncomfortable

It is hard to summarise what the film ‘Closer’ is about. It is hard to even tell what kind of genre it fits into. It is included her under ‘romance’ but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The film is astonishingly unromantic and gives such a harsh, brutal depiction of love that one could also argue that this isn’t even a love story. Director Mike Nichols has assembled an all-star cast in recruiting Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts ... Read review

Advantages: Powerful, Deep, Brilliatly-made
Disadvantages: I liked Julia Roberts and Jude Law and now feel dirty

...gravestone is patted down. In Closer time moves on and people move on. As such, it is entirely believable that these are real lives, and the stories true. Which brings us conveniently to the real defining message of the film – The Truth. Closer will tell you more about the role and importance of truth in relationships than any number of marriage guidance counsellors, therapists or episodes of Oprah Winfrey you care to find. Each character is destined ... Read review

Advantages: Great performances
Disadvantages: The characters are difficult to like and the whole film is cold

Closer is the story of two relationships that become enmeshed. London obituarist Daniel falls for free-spirited American girl Alice. But then he meets photographer Anna and embarks on affair with her. Anna gets involved with lustful dermatologist Larry, who wants to use Alice as a means of revenge. I must admit to being somewhat confused by the advertising campaign for “Closer” that suggests this is a film about love. It’s not – it’s THE anti-romantic ... Read review

Advantages: An interesting concept, with some dark humour and decent acting
Disadvantages: Large quantities of time just vanished

It seems that just recently it’s becoming almost impossible to pick up a film without Jude Law in it. I decided the other week it was time to actually catch up with a few of these films as I’d thought Jude was good in Enemy At The Gate. The first of my Jude Law trilogy was Closer, a film that has been praised from the roof tops by the film industry. I got the feeling when I sat down to watch it I was either going to be totally indifferent to it or ... Read review

Advantages: Four great performaces, dramatic
Disadvantages: writing, difficult to adapt to stage

...tea, I went to see closer at the cinema two weeks ago. With four great actors in good form and veteran director Mike Nichols at the reins, the four-play in "Closer" is unquestionably dramatic. But the film is not the powerhouse it might have been for reasons here explained. First up, the source material. "Closer" is based on the play by Patrick Marber with Marber himself contributing the wordy screenplay. On stage, perhaps, the tightness and close-knit ... Read review

Advantages: Intellectual, Compelling
Disadvantages: Hardly cheery

It was early 2005 and I was bored so decided to go to the cinema and had no idea what to watch. 'Closer' was a film that I did not feel entirely enthused about going to see but I was sure that the star power would see me through it. The film is essentially a tale of four people intertwined by their own confusion as to who it is that they love or lust after. Dan (Jude Law) is a smart journalist (well, obituary writer) who is in a relationship with ... Read review

Advantages: Good cast, interesting characters, good dark humour
Disadvantages: Not a typical love story, no real purpose to the film

...say that I did enjoy Closer but I feal the film was lacking in several areas and that it could have been better but this is probably due to the fact that I went to see it expecting a slightly dark romantic comedy and it was nothing like what I expected with it being more based on pure lust than love which is not a bad thing but if you are like me and enjoy romantic comedies then this is probably not for you as its dark nature could be too much for ... Read review

Advantages: Very watchable, good cast
Disadvantages: Perhaps a bit too long

...felt more like three hours, Closer follows the characters over a period of four years, with large time leaps revealed in the conversations between the major players, rather than the usual subtitles on screen. I did find this slightly disconcerting to begin with and felt a little lost. Through what can only be described as chance encounters, Jude Law meets Natalie Portman and they become an item. He then meets Julia Roberts and manages to set her ... Read review

Advantages: Great cast
Disadvantages: Unrealistic pessimism, weak story and characters.

...about what love really is, Closer becomes a bitter and pessimistic tale trying to show that love doesn't really exist anymore in any romantic form and that people will just keep on hurting each other for their own selfish ends. "What!?" i hear you cry, "Closer? the film that got such critical acclaim?". Well lets start at the beginning.... The casting in closer is one thing that i cannot find fault with. Jude Law has had some impressive roles, ... Read review

Advantages: The dialog, the acting, the simplicity.
Disadvantages: Not a "fun" film.

...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 ... Read review

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Direction: Mike Nichols Producers: Cary Brokaw, John Calley, Mike Nichols Writers: Patrick Marber Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Production Year: 2004 DVD Year: 2005 Length: 104 min Rating: R CAST: Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Nick Hobbs, Colin Stinton, Steven Benham, Michael Haley, Peter Rnic, Jaclynn Tiffany Brown This is a romantically as well dangerous love story about casual ... Read review

Advantages: Stella cast offer remarkable performances
Disadvantages: Ugly dialogue and distasteful story

I don’t like clipped and short reviews, as aside from requiring a small amount of back-story that relates to the film when I read reviews I like to go away from the feeling I have learnt or understood something different. As I sit in front of my keyboard I am having a crisis about what to impart about ‘Closer’. Not for the faint of heart or those who like to indulge romantic flights of fancies when it comes to their cinema going entertainment "Closer" ... Read review