More To This Movie Than Natalie Portman In A Thong.

Rating: 8/10 (24 September 2014)

I'll be honest, I was attracted to this movie because Natalie Portman played a stripper. But 'Closer' does not rely on the selling point of Portman in a thong. It is a story about falling in love and the heart ache that comes with break ups.
A good movie for me is one that does not end with the credits. And 'Closer' certainly leaves you pondering things when the credits roll.
Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen and Julia Roberts are two couples who lives become inter locked
With the exception of Portman none the lead characters seem nice people to hang out with. Ranking them in terms of unpleasantness. Owen walks away with it as Larry. He is a disgusting, vile man. Up next is Law as the pathetic selfish weasel Dan. Then comes Roberts, as Anna who doesn't seem to love any of the characters she claims to. But compared to the others, she ain't so bad. Then comes Portman last who seems to be the innocent party of it all, until the very end.
I can't praise the cast enough of this movie enough here. (Only time I'll do this with Jude Law) All of them do a great job of making you believe their characters and their motives.
Some of the cast were never as good before this movie, and never were again. Jude Law has been dire in everything (except Sherlock Holmes) since. Clive Owen had 'Derailed' with Jennifer Aniston, but other than that has disappointed. Roberts has not done much since, and I'll be honest, I have not bothered to see any of her work (barring Oceans 12) as it simply didn't look that interesting.
As for the Oscar nominated Portman, she would go on to win the Oscar for the disturbing 'Black Swan'. She remains one of the most talented and beautiful women in the movies, and her ladylike sexiness is in rare supply. Any movie becomes promising just by having her name in it's cast.