Closer

 

 

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Playwright Patrick Marber, who adapted his stage play for the large screen, has obviously been very influenced by playwrights the likes of Harold Pinter (think the relationships in "Betrayal") and David Mamet (think the staccato scene structure of "A Life in the Theatre"). Granted, if you're going to be influenced by other writers, then why not two of the best playwrights of our time. Perhaps it is this reason why "Closer" has a somewhat less-than-original feeling about it. Then pepper it with a touch of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" and you start experiencing déjà-vu.

That having been said, is there really anything truly new under the sun? OK, occasionally - that's what makes a great writer great - but that is extremely rare. So Marber is not setting new benchmarks, but by coupling up with the brilliant Mike Nichols, Marber was able to bring something rather new to the large screen...something that is usually reserved for the relative few who venture out to the theatres of this world - and I don't mean the ones playing the latest Andrew Lloyd Weber musical.

So far, I have met no one who "sort of" likes this film. Everyone I have spoken to about it either loves it, or hates it. This is quite evident in the reviews that one reads here on Amazon. I, however, am truly in the middle.

Getting past my Pinter-Mamet-Stoppard déjà-vu, I was faced with a piece that is much more at home on a theatre stage than it is on a movie screen. The two media normally have very different structures, feelings and pacing. Rarely does it work to adapt a theatre piece for the large screen. The success here was only marginal. The biggest problem with "Closer" is it's pacing. Given what the story is trying to achieve, however, there isn't much one could do to improve that, I'm afraid. Put this same piece on a stage, however, and you wouldn't think it slow at all - it's all about the media.

Whereas the 4 different relationships, between the 4 characters of this piece constantly ring true, and I can't imagine that anyone will not at times feel like Marber was spying through your keyhole, the truths here are not earth-shaking. You might be engaged for the 104 minutes of the film, feeling at times like you are 14 years old and your mother is waving the dirty magazine she found under your mattress in your face, but this engagement dissolves after the beautiful title song plays out at the end of the film. You don't spend days mulling over this piece like you do after watching, for example, Stoppard's "Arcadia".

So let me sum up my feelings about Patrick Marber: a good solid writer for the stage, who deserves to have his pieces produced, but might not leave that big a mark as a legacy unless he can find a more unique style and finds truths to tell that are more earth-shaking than "we're all dirty, rotten liars deep down inside".

There is a major upside to "Closer" and that lies in the magnificent cast. Roberts, Law, Owen and Portman give their best performances to date in this film. Natalie Portman steals a show, however, that is damn near impossible to steal. You won't be able to take your eyes off of her. She absolutely lights up the screen. If there is no other reason to see this film, then is it for her brilliant performance. Clive Owen's work is also amazing. As good as Julia Roberts and Jude Law are in their roles, one does understand the Golden Globe Awards and the Oscar nominations for both Portman and Owen.

Bottom line: go into it with an open mind, not expecting your normal movie fare, and you might just appreciate it.

"Closer" begins quite traditionally: two strangers fall in love. Dan (Jude Law), an aspiring novelist, cannot help but feeling immensely attracted to Alice (Natalie Portman), a young American waitress and stripper who is in London escaping from a failed relationship. But nothing last forever, and after some time he meets Anna (Julia Roberts), a photographer, and feels attracted to her. The film's subtitle says it all: "If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking".

Nothing happens right away, but from then onwards, things go downhill for Alice and Dan. Yes, they don't break up, but Dan is already mentally involved in another relationship, even if he is too coward to leave Alice, and although he knows that Anna won't go out with him. Dan is so obsessed with Anna that he even impersonates her in a sex-chat, unintentionally paving the way for the meeting of Anna with her future husband, Larry (Clive Owen).

Eventually Dan, Alice, Anna and Larry take part in a twisted dance of deceit, guilt and anger. Betrayal, lack of trust, and relationships gone sour are the themes of "Closer". This isn't a movie about love, but rather one about attraction, lust and lies.

What is the truth?. What is love?. Can we just decide not to be in love?. As you see this movie, you will ask yourself those questions and quite a few more. The characters are not specially lovable, but they are somehow fascinating, in the way snakes sometimes are. All the same, their acting is really superb. Natalie Portman, in particular, was outstanding as Alice. Innocent yet seductive, vulnerable and worldweary, Portman delivers some of the more striking lines in the film, for instance when Alice says to Larry that "lying is the most fun a girl can have while keeping her clothes on".

Mike Nichols did a wonderful job directing a movie out of Patrick Marber's play. However, you should be warned that he uses explicit language in order to shock the spectator, and achieves his aim quite well. Also, at times the emotions displayed by the characters are so strong that you will be too close for comfort.

This is a film about the kind of relationship you hope you will never have, one based on lies. It is also a movie where truth isn't specially important: it is merely a excuse so characters will have (and do) what they want. If you don't mind the subject and the language, you will enjoy this movie, because it has good actors, and it provides you the opportunity of knowing exactly what NOT to do in a relationship.

Belen Alcat

I watched this movie with my boyfriend, and we could carry a conversation simply based on the little details of the movie. I can't help but to fall in love with all the characters (for their no-nonsense performance). Natalie Portman totally deserved her golden globe~

Carol

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4.0 out of 5 stars Feels like a play
Directed by Mike Nicholls
Starring Clive Owen, Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Julia Roberts
104 minutes

Video:
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Steven Aldersley

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything U want A Movie To Be
Closer has everything u want in a movie, u have the a-list cast, u have a theme song by Damien Rice to die for, and it just keeps you wanting more. Read more

Published on April 17 2005 by Ok_Lai

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Story is good in theory but comes across as a little confusing due to time shifts that are not always easy to catch. Read more

Published on April 11 2005 by Katy Andrews

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