"And so it is..."

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2005)

"And so it is, the shorter story, no love no glory, no hero in her sky." Patrick Marber's highly acclaimed stage drama about interactions between two couples has been adapted to the screen, much to the credit of veteran director Mike Nichols. Dan (Law) is a London writer vainly working on a novel, but in the meantime is writing obituaries. One day he bumps into Alice, a beautiful young American expatriate. She immediately falls for him, and he in return is initially enchanted by her. But as time progresses, and after his novel is completed, her neediness grows thin. Anna (Roberts) is a photographer who is hired to take a portrait of Dan for the dust jacket of his book. Dan is attracted to her easy confidence and flirtatious advances are exchanged, but Anna backs off once she becomes aware that Alice is in the picture. Through some irresponsible and rather explicit internet chatting (at the misleading hand of Dan), Larry the perverse dermatologist (Owen) encounters Anna at an Aquarium. The two marry, and inevitably become distant and unhappy. Dan and Alice also find difficulty in their relationship after Dan engages in a year-long affair with Anna, but complication grows between them when Dan is frustrated by Anna's reluctance to leave Larry.
CLOSER is mesmerising, I was so transfixed that as the end credits began to roll, I felt as though I had forgotten I was watching a film. It was like an intrusion on four people's lives. These are four beautifully written characters, none of which are very likable; they're all selfish, nasty people who don't care who they hurt in order to sleep with whom they wish. I was wondering before I saw the film, which characters would be the 'bad guys' (my bets were on Alice and Larry), they're ALL bad. But they are written with such intelligence and veracity that we can't help but be utterly compelled. All the characters are as rendered as real people, with such complicated sexual needs. Anna wants what she can't have, as does Dan. Larry wants pure animal, utmost primitive and emotionless sex, borderline deviace. Alice is the most enigmatic of the ensemble, all she really wants is someone to hold, she's delicate, yet she's in her own words a "floozy". There's something very elusive about her. All four actors are superb. Roberts brings a very interior quality to Anna, a very un-Julia Roberts character and performance. Law brings an interesting perspective to Dan. But Portman and Owen steal the show. Portman is simply wonderful, and Owen (my favourite) is Oscar worthy. Mike Nichols has had a great two years, last year with his mini-series 'Angels in America' and now with perhaps his finest film to date. Marber's screenplay is crafted with humour, acumen and pathos. Through the entire screening I don't remember moving once, this is a smart love story, there's no clichés or happy endings. It's an unblinking and uncompromising look at relationships and sex. This is thought provoking and unforgettable. This is about sex without showing it, it's about love without meaning it, it's about relationships and above all, desire. This film still echoes in my mind. "And so it is, the shorter story, no love no glory, no hero in her sky." 5 STARS