An Intriguing Drama

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2005)

Closer is not very comfortable viewing. The film is a very rough and raw look at the negative side of relationships. Directed by Mike Nichols, this movie features outstanding performances, a wonderful soundtrack and a great script.
Closer follows the relationships of four people, Dan (Jude Law), Alice (Natalie Portman), Anna (Julia Roberts) and Larry (Clive Owen). After Dan helps Alice in an accident he uses her in a novel. A year later Dan is photographed by Anna. They share a kiss. Later, through an internet chat-site prank, Dan gets Alice together with Larry. In the following year they get married and Dan and Alice are together. Here on follows a series of intense break ups and confrontations.
Closer is a very black, intriguing comedy/drama. The performances in this movie a brilliant. Natalie Portman is stunning as Alice. Her character is beautiful, deceiving and very kind. Portman's portrayal is great.
Julia Roberts is very good as Alice, a very interesting character. She invests her role with such a haunted chill you can't imagine anyone wanting to be with her.
Jude Law is quite good as Dan. His character is restless and pathetic, sad and sadistic and is always a crushed romantic.
Finally, Clive Owen is pretty much flawless as Larry, a very mean, sadistic, heartless character.
This film has some very intense dialogue. There is a certain internet chat-site scene between Dan and Larry that is very comical but extremely crude. Some of confrontations scenes are very harsh. I have never heard the word cum used that much in any movie I have seen. This movie is very entertaining and is almost flawless. My only very minor annoyance is towards the end I found that it was getting a little repetitive.
I must say though, this isn't for everyone.
4/5.