A punch in the stomach but...I loved it!

Rating: 9/10 (1 February 2005)

Watching "Closer" was, in a way, like receiving a punch in the stomach. That's what I felt after viewing this amazingly almost perfect movie. I'm really glad I did! Why do I say "almost perfect"? Simply because I think that, even in its screen version, "Closer" remains a "stage-play" (which I regret not having had a chance to see), cleverly translated to the screen by the same author Patrick Marber, with the help of a recognized "specialist" like Mike Nichols. Both ensured the required fidelity to the spirit of the original. Rough, controversial, unpleasant, cruel, at times uneasy to watch and almost agonizing, but painfully honest and coherent with real life. Definitely not a commercial product and, consequently, not the movie for everyone. If you just want to be entertained and are too lazy to put your brain to work, "The Aviator" or "Ray", for example, could be your cup of tea. By the way, both are excellent movies, don't get me wrong. If you don't mind using your head or, just plain, are not afraid and love the challenge and don't need a happy ending then, please, watch the exquisite film "Closer". You won't regret it. All the above explains the very contrasting reactions from the audience. I'm sure, many spectators really felt cheated and asked for their money back... The essence: four interesting and very complex characters, a wonderfully written dialogue (as harsh and realistic as it can be) and four amazing young actors to bring to life this compelling today's story about love and sex. The subject matter: truth, lies, love, hate, sorrow, regret, manipulation, sex, sex and more sex.... Real today's life situations involving the relationship of two couples, which are unable to avoid screwing (in the broad sense of the word) each others up. And all end up loosing. The acting: what can I say? Seldom have we had the luck of having four fine actors, which chemistry worked so well, reunited in the same movie. Moreover they all are very good looking, which doesn't hurt. My darling, (still very young) Natalie Portman is absolutely incredible in the role of "Alice". She "is" at least four different kind of woman at the same time. Her different personalities are brought up, one by one, while she is interacting with the other characters. She is a helpless fragile child, a sexy shameless vixen, a sweet and caring lover, a selfish and arrogant bitch and, perhaps, something more. She manages this not easy acting task, showing the same astounding skills of a "seasoned stage-chameleon" but still, she makes it appear so natural and easy. I must confess, she managed to reach several times deep down in my "emotion-reservoir" and made me tremble....and also, she is sooooo pretty! I would rate her performance here at the same level of her unforgettable performance as "Mathilda"in "Léon" (unbelievable, she was only twelve at that time...) I feel comfortable we'll see a lot more good from Natalie for many years to come. Clive Owen is amazing. He can be a repulsive, sex manipulative, egoistic and egotistic bastard and, minutes later, a fragile, confused and somehow lost soul. His scene with Jud Law, in his doctors' practice, is one of the best for both actors. I only hope he will not be too attracted by the lures of Hollywood and will keep choosing his new projects with intelligence. Jud Law is strong and convincing, as he has already accustomed us in previous movies. Julia Roberts passes with flying colors in, probably, one of the most difficult and challenging role of her career. Her best scene (to me) is when Clive/Larry is confronting her and wants to know if she slept with Jud/Dan in their apartment. First she warns him: "...please...don't do this...", but when he increases the pressure, she suddenly drops all moral barriers and starts throwing in his face the truth, with plenty of graphic details, which have the same impact of a sharp blade plunged frantically in his flesh, in a paroxysms of verbal sadism and self destructive humiliation... WOW! I give it a 9 out of 10.