A masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (11 March 2006)

Most people didn't like this film. And what makes it so unlikable to most make it a masterpiece to me. Besides astonishing performances by the actors and an exquisite yet ironic choice of music, the movie shines by its dialogs, thanks to Marber. I have seen this movie 6 times with 8 different people. The reason why most people dislike Closer is clear to me, and is even exposed in the film itself. In her first conversation with Larry, Alice says:
All the glittering assholes who appreciate art say it's beautiful because that's what they want to see. But the people in the photos are sad and alone. But the pictures make the world seem beautiful, so the exhibition is reassuring, which makes it a lie. And everyone loves a big fat lie.
That is the exact positioning of the movie. Every movie in Hollywood, every TV show, keep telling us that love is a beautiful, wonderful thing, probably the most beautiful thing to happen between humans, that it's all about doing good to each other and being true to each other. And why? Because that's what we want to see and hear, don't we? So when a movie comes out and show the dark side of love in such a raw way, we refuse to admit that, unfortunately, love is pain as much as happiness. Come on, open your eyes, it really is! The very notion of love in a couple is all fabricated: two hundred years ago, people never thought that marriage would even bring them happiness. Even courteous love was a game, and, by the way, played outside of marriage! The movie depicts perfectly our incapacity of getting into relationship in an harmonious way. Seduction is really a game in which you lose or win.
So if you didn't like the movie, maybe it just doesn't talk to you. Or maybe it shows what you don't want to see or believe: that those characters are extreme but realistic. The movie may be bitter, but is true and intelligent. And above, it's a movie made for those who accept to open their eyes on what love was and still is on many aspects: a war.