Closer

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2006)

Cynical. In one word Closer is cynical. It all deals with love and lust, the old equation but still it is unique. Mike Nichols' Closer is a complex dark motion picture where we watch vulnerable selfish dimensions of human beings are explored and presented nude.
Four main protagonists. Dan (Jude Law) writes obituaries in London. Alice (Natalie Portman) is a stripper who has flied there to get out of a relationship. They meet in the opening scene of the film when Alice got hit by a cab and Dan gets her to hospital. They start talking and end up loving together. Dan who has written a fiction novel now on his relationship with Alice shows at Anna's (Julia Roberts) studio to photograph for book-jacket. Anna has read it and impressed on the way he has accurately depicted sexÂ…love in his novel. They feel the attraction towards each other as conversation continues and they kiss. But she steps back when she come to know Dan lives with Alice. "You are taken" she says. But Dan continues to lurk around Anna's studio. Then we meet Dr. Larry (Clive Owen) chatting with Dan on an adult site where Dan pretends to be Anna. Dan invites Larry at an aquarium as practical joke to meet. Ironically Anna happens to be there. Larry and Anna are now dating each other while Dan didn't stop craving for Anna. What happens next is best to watch on screen.
There is an obvious sexual tension between these. In one of the best scenes, in Art Gallary, where Anna's photo exhibition is in session Dan and Alice show up. Alice and Larry start conversing about the exhibition, Alice says "It's a lie. It's a bunch of sad strangers photographed beautifully, and... all the glittering assholes who appreciate art say it's beautiful 'cause that's what they wanna see. But the people in the photos are sad, and alone...". Larry learns about her profession as a stripper. He finds her attractive. He even leans to kiss her, she doesn't move but Larry shuns temptation with a smile and says, "I'll see you around". Dan says to Alice, "I am your stranger JUMP!!!!".
They deceive each other. They love, hurt, talk in fierce manner. In the process innocence is broken and all turn cold and nasty. Exploiting opponent's weaknesses and while doing so they don't care or even sometimes seem to take pleasure of that control. In another best scene where Larry shows up at Alice's strip club after splitting with Anna. Alice is all hurt still presents her as icy while Larry is all stripped emotionally in front of her begging crying in agony. He asks her to talk with her real life she says, "Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - but it's better if you do". He pours all his money to give him her real name but she insists as her name is Jones. He asks her to move in with him. She snaps him with "I am not your revenge fcuk!"
Conveniently manipulate their selves as per their means is another major aspect told here. These characters just blindly serve their desires but make sure as if love with their partner. Dan says "What's so great about the truth? Try lying for a change, it's the currency of the world". Look for its dialogs- snappy and witty. These highly eloquent characters are given lines to tear hearts.
Actors are at their best here. I love Clive Owen most. I just couldn't stop raving about his scene during strip club with Portman. His best line for me is "Everything is the version of something else". His transitions from caring to nasty are most painful to watch. Natalie Portman probably gave her career best so far here. Her pain right from the scene when she asks Roberts to take her photo with tears rolling down her chick. As something is burnt in that moment and never come back later. Jude Law's Dan and Julia Robert's Anna are again no doubt fine.
At the very end when Dan is back with Alice. He leaves to get smoke, he calls for lift and as lift door opens he sees himself in mirror and something strikes him. He just picks some flowers and goes back to Alice where she tells her the truth that she doesn't love him anymore. She tells her truth about the strip joint night. This ends up Closer bleak.
Is there ever any love in Closer or all was just human desires presented pretended as Love by these protagonists? Can men n women be that dangerous to lie in so believable manner? Is human heart that soulless? How can we hurt someone we love so brutally? With surgical precision Mike Nichols gave us Closer and left me numb. Alice asks Dan "No one will ever love you as much as I do. Why isn't love enough?" Larry heartbreakingly asks Anna "Did you ever love me?" Anna asks to Dan, "Why did you swear eternal love when all you wanted was excitement? Love bores you." Dan responds, "No, it disappoints me." Closer asks all these questions and if you are watching you have got your answers.