a challenging film.

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2004)

Although I was comPLETEly engrossed in the drama between these characters (on the edge of my seat even!), I have to say one of my friends totally passed out in the movie theater--clearly, this movie is not for everyone.
Mike Nichols' "Closer" almost seemed like a French movie in English: it is dialogue-driven, with complex characters and relationships. The viewer is not spoon-fed a storyline, and watching it does require some intellectual participation.
I suspect many of the negative reviews were the result of unmet expectation--this is not lighthearted romantic fare, nor is it thinly-disguised softcore porn in the form of a Hollywood movie. That being said, I am truly surprised at all comments from viewers horrified by the 'dirty language.' There is a LOT more disputable things in Hollywood these days (heads blown off, gratuitous sex scenes) than a few naughty words. It's really nothing you've never heard before (come on), and I found the lewdness to be necessary and real, and not inserted just for shock value.
At times the banter between the characters had a stage-play feel to it, making "Closer" a stylized version of reality, but the acting was just about always superb. Even if none of your relationships have ever been so deceptive and twisted, you will DEFINITELY find some aspects of the relationships in "Closer" applicable to your own experiences, and you will leave the movie with a lot to think about.
If you read the user comments, it seems like people either loved or hated this film. I think that any film that elicits such a wide range of passionate response is worth seeing.