Closer

Rating: 8/10 (5 February 2005)

Closer, is based on the play of the same name by Patrick Marber, who also wrote the film's screenplay. The film takes place in London, and involves four different people. The film starts out with a young man named Dan, looks across the street at a young woman named Alice, and immediately becomes fascinated with her. A few moments later Alice, is involved in an accident and Dan, goes with her to the hospital and soon they start to become friends. A year passes and the two are now a couple. Dan, has just got off publishing a book about Alice's life and is being photographed by a photographer named Anna, who he soon gets a crush on and starts seeing. Also a lonely doctor named Larry, finds Anna at an aquarium after a cruel dating joke on the internet and soon falls in love with her. The characters can't settle on one love though and through the film they all end up hurting each other with betrayal and lies after all four of the people meet. Winner of The NBR Award for Best Acting By An Ensemble at The National Board Of Review. Closer, has good direction, a good screenplay, great performances by everyone involved (including an Oscar worthy performance by Natalie Portman as Alice, and Clive Owen as Larry), good cinematography, good film editing and good set decoration. Closer, has great dialogue with rich and fascinating conversations the characters indulge in, the film has a great ensemble cast and is well made, as a well thought out script, some very powerful and emotional scenes, it is fascinating, compelling, a good character study and is an entertaining and well made film. The end seemed to drag and felt a little long at times but that is only a minor complaint. A very good film which I hope gets nominated for it's great dialogue filled screenplay and excellent performances by Natalie Portman and Clive Owen. One of the year's best films.