Dialogue driven film with an award winning cast

Rating: Null/10 (23 December 2010)

Six years after the movie release of Closer and 850+ reviews to sift though...I don't know how mine will be noticed so this is mostly for my own gratification and to help me remember.
I instantly loved Closer. It's so wonderful to experience a film that goes back to the basics: characters, great writing, focusing on dialogue. It's unusual nowadays. The way the characters all played off each other, the wordplay, and the verbally jousting, it was all exceptionally entertaining. I think we've really lost that in movies. It's very unusual to hear fantastic dialogue and to hear intelligent people interacting. From the witty things they say while seducing each other to the brutally honest things that we all think but don't necessarily say - it's all here. There are so many great lines and so many great scenes. The theme song, The Blower's Daughter, is perfect and represents the movie in a nutshell.
Be warned that this isn't a movie to share with the kids and it isn't for the faint of heart or for those who want a more standard romance to watch. There will be those that will be shocked by or upset by this film and find it offensive or difficult to watch.
Closer is an adaption of a play written by Patrick Marber. Cliven Owen actually performed this play in the original London stage production although at that time he was playing the character of Dan instead of Larry! It's impressive to see how well he was able to totally change his perspective and act so convincingly as Larry. After seeing Closer I really couldn't envision him being anyone else. The great thing about a movie vs. a play is that you don't have to shout your lines and it can feel that much more real and intimate.
While there may only be four characters to work with you get a deep dive into each of them. In my opinion this is all four actor's best work ever.