"Closer": Rate it "I" for "Immature"

Rating: Null/10 (9 October 2005)

This film depicts self-centered, immature people who seem to spend no time with any friends or family... no time on their nominal jobs... but an inordinate amount of time screwing the other 3 characters--either literally or figuratively--and promoting Philip Morris products.
I was completely unconvinced by the sexual choices Julia Roberts makes--when she talked about whom she was involved with and why, it just sounded like she was reading a script.
I don't get why this picture is for "mature audiences"--it depicts behavior one sees in adolescents who turn to using sex for power, drinking, and smoking because they are neglected at home.
This movie is an egregious example of cigarette advertising. In fact, smoking seems to be more desirable than sex in this film--since tobacco usage is depicted almost constantly and actual sex is only talked about.
A Philip Morris cigarette brand has been prominently placed... right along with the Sony laptops.
Occasionally a character halfheartedly states that he or she has quit--but that is meaningless. The image left in one's mind is of the character smoking. Smoking is portrayed as deeply pleasurable, sexy, comforting, and oh-so-naughty.(If you doubt that this film encourages people to smoke, read some of the things viewers have posted on the message board.)
Dr. "Stubble," the dermatologist--would you trust him to treat your acne?--seems unconcerned that smoking causes people's skin to thin, wrinkle, and sag by the time they turn 35. It doesn't occur to him to mention that smoking causes tens of thousands to die each year from cancer, heart attack, or the agonizing, smothering death from emphysema. Nope, he's too busy getting' busy with other screwed-up people.