Beautiful Film, Love the music!

Rating: 8/10 (6 April 2015)

It starts with a look and the unforgettable song the "The Blowers Daughter" provided by Damien Rice. Walking the busy streets of London two people lock eyes and make an instant connection only to have it end in near tragedy. Dan, played by Jude Law, is eyeing Alice, played by Natalie Portman, only to have their flirting session end when Alice is hit by a car. With only a few cuts and scrapes, Dan waits with her in the E.R. and they get to know one another. Alice is a former stripper who just moved to London from New York after a break up, while Dan is a struggling writer and journalist who currently writes obituaries.
"Closer" is Directed by legendary Mike Leigh and adapted from the play by Patrick Marber. Its the story of 4 characters that all get involved with each others and make each other rather miserable. Along with Dan and Alice we have Larry (Clive Owen) the dermatologist and Anna (Julia Roberts) the photographer. We jump ahead a little bit and Dan has completed his book and is getting his head shot taken by Anna. Although he's in a relationship with Alice, he can't help but fall in love with Anna. She is also into him but doesn't want to hurt Alice. Angered Dan sets up a prank that ends up backfiring on him. In a very funny scene that is probably taken straight from reality, Dan poses as Anna in sex chat room and strikes up quite the filthy conversation with Larry. Knowing that Anna will be at the Aquarium he set up Larry to meet her where another very funny and awkward scene takes place. Through that meeting Anna and Larry fall in love and eventually get married.
All of the characters get their fill of jealousy, anger and betrayal but Dan gets the worst of them all. He is tormented and played around with by all three. He is weak minded and easily manipulated. His lack of loyalty and pure jealousy costs him Alice not once but twice. Once he inadvertently introduces Anna and Larry he dooms his chances forever with her. Larry is the exact opposite, he is like a caveman with an overactive sex drive. He is smart and will stop at nothing to get what wants. Ana is a down to earth fine art portrait photographer who falls in love with both Dan and Larry and must make a choice, but it seems like it has already be made. Alice is a strong independent woman who is looking for a new start in London but after her first break up with Dan she goes back to her old ways. Alice is a mysterious character and the one we know the least about. Anna is jealous of how young and beautiful she is and this is probably why she is into Dan. Alice is many things, a tease, a flirt and a manipulator. After a bitter argument, Larry goes to a strip club where Alice is working. Since Larry is quite obsessed with her he pays for a private dance and she plays the part perfectly. "Lying is the funnest thing a girl can do with her clothes on" she says at one point. The story ends seemingly as it should almost like fate has intervened and told these characters what should happen next. We close with more "Blowers Daughter" and Alice? walking the streets of New York looking as beautiful and as confident as ever.