Pretty good, not great

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2004)

I am a fan of movies like Welcome to the Dollhouse, In The Company of Men, Friends & Neighbors, Happiness, etc. I often like movies that show some of the ugliness that human beings possess (I know that I am in the minority on that) and that is what I like about Closer. Relationships can be quite pathetic, and this movie explores that. I'd say that, for better and worse, Closer is a slicker, more poetic and less gritty companion to the aforementioned movies.
Reading some of the reviews here, I think Julia Roberts and Jude Law drew in some people looking for Pretty Woman II or something. Trust me, there is nothing pretty about this movie. Personally, I found the language and sexuality extremely inoffensive.