RSS 2.0Closer (2004)
Ok, it has to be said in faux British accent. What a complete load of bollocks! This over-hyped, super-slick production is heavy on pretty faces and pseudo-intense interpersonal drama. But, the plot is as thin as an anorexic in LA and the characters are under-developed and totally unsympathetic. In short, it’s a total waste of time!
The movie spans a four year timeframe and follows the parallel arcs of two very heterosexual relationships. There are some interesting time shifts that seem to only serve the purpose of making the viewer feel clever during an otherwise mind-numbing movie. When the plot jumps ahead by several months or even years, the requisite white typeface text announcing “6 months later” has been left out. The jumps are never disconcerting for more than several seconds, so it works. But the rush through time, prevents any real character development. You don’t ever see any connectedness between these already plastic people, so you don’t feel the growth or the dissolution of their relationships. You are simply dropped right smack in the middle of their arguments or make-ups.
Jude Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts all act superbly. I can’t think of better casting for this ensemble of shallow, surface level glamorous types who seem to have very little focus outside of stirring up jealousies amongst each other. There is plenty of sexual tension between the various pairings of these two couples, but there isn’t actually any sex happening just a lot of wordy pretentious allusions to it. In my opinion, it makes the whole thing thoroughly unsatisfying like some kind of cruel bait and switch.
Closer ends up being a plot full of nothing more than over-dramatized break-ups between the chic Brit boys and glossy-looking Yankee girls. I honestly just didn’t get it. I’m not kidding when I say that this movie just seemed like some ridiculous vehicle for pulling out all the cute British colloquialisms that Americans love to hear. It’s as pretty to listen to as it is to watch … as long as your mind checks out. But, hey, if that’s what into you are going to love it.
marisa (44 posts)Lives happily in upstate Manhattan with a small dog and an amazing woman who weirdly doesn't watch movies very often. (I guess you can't have perfection.)
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Excellent review and I echo your thoughts. the only think I don’t agree with, however, is that Julia Roberts acted superbly, she was her usual dull, drab self with no depth or emotion. Natalie Portman, on the other hand, did an excellent job with her limited material. And Mr. Owen shined. But yes, this movie was nothing but unsatisfying.
Comment by Jeannie Kahaney — Fri December 10, 2004 @ 22:54I love everything about it. The it held my attention straight through!
Comment by Donna A. — Mon July 18, 2005 @ 4:12I am not a Juila Roberts fan. I liked her in this one. I liked that she went dark.
Clive Owen just blew me away. I would say it was one of his best. King Arthur was his worst. (He was eye candy, that was all he was.)
Natalie Portman was beautiful. And I love how she played Alice/Jane. And there is Jude Law. Other than I Heart Huckabees (which I loved). I really liked him in this one. I haven’t been all that impressed with his work.
It was worth the price.
Donna A.
I have watched your moves sense sleeping with the enemy
Comment by Toni Ravinell — Sat February 4, 2006 @ 2:02I was going threw the same thing you went threw in that movie untill i got out it was crazy back then im so blessed that i got out i have 5 children and im only 29 but i have been blessed to i wish one day i can get to meet you you are one of my favorite stars and im a black chick i dont care you are the bomb on and off the set ijust see you that way god has your soul and thats a good thing you dont see allot of that I pray me and my kids get to meet you one day Ilive in north carolina whenwe meet i hope it want be no camera i hope its just meand my kids and you and GOD thank you TONI RAVINEll
I thought “Closer” was worth watching only for Natalie Portman’s amazing performance. She was just brilliant in it. I liked clive owen too, but I have to say Jude Law has seen better days and Julia Roberts is better off parading the roads as a hooker in Pretty Woman.
Comment by Lushgreenapple — Sat May 2, 2009 @ 21:18