"Closer" is a thought-provoking film about the psychology of intimate relationships

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2005)

I found "Closer" to be a fine, thought-provoking film. It seems to be about theprimarily--men's obsession with talking about sex and finding new partners and their willingness to have sex behind their partner's backs, while revealing their (unfair) fury and voyeurism when they think the object of their desires, their female partners, might be doing the same. The movie resonated with what I know about a certain type of male insecurity: the I-must-conquer-every-attractive-woman-I meet syndrome, not matter how loving and strong my current relationship is, but don't let my partner have a screw behind my back because I will become jealous, voyeuristic, and rageful. The men appeared to be constantly testing their partners, another reflection not only of the men's insecurities but also their nervous projection onto the women of what the men themselves were doing or plotting to do. Making this all happen via the careful plot twists and turns between the four people was very effective and suspenseful. Ultimately, I wondered why all four didn't get together as a quadruple, since one could make the case that they found each other all very attractive. While overtly each character appears very heterosexual, I felt strong homosexual attractions going on. The title is perfect. All the many ways each couple in turn tried to create close, loving relationships, but because of their insecurities and betrayals, they never could stay faithful long enough to pull it off. Nor did the voyeuristic and verbal assaults the men made on their partners over suspicions concerning their other love lives do anything to improve the closeness of any relationship, far from it.