Love takes a holiday.

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2005)

Mike Nichols ("Angels in America") directs this adaptation of Patrick Marber's stage play, starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owen. One can easily see the play's theatrical origins, given its focus on dialog and the existence of only four real characters. "Closer" is a sexually graphic (mostly in terms of dialog) film, and contains four superb performances, especially from Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. Roberts and Law, the real movie stars, give very good performances, but they're outdone by their lesser-known costars. Clive Owen really steals the show, as the brutish Larry. Given that all four characters are horrible individuals, one can't help but root for the one who seems to be enjoying it the most.