Closer (Superbit Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Closer (Superbit Edition)
Movie Review: Great character study! Which one are you?
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is RAW. If you want a feel good, bubble gum and lollipops type of movie, this is not for you.
This is one of the BEST character studies I have seen in a long time. It's ugly, it's raw, but it's REAL and that could be why some felt so ill at ease. To like this movie is to accept that people really are this selfish and ugly-hearted. This could very well happen and that's what turns your stomach.
By far, Clive Owen owns this movie! You are disgusted by him from beginning to end, but find yourself rooting for him on several occasions, then mad at yourself that you are doing so. But then when you look at the alternative for Anna (Julia Roberts) in Dan (Jude Law), you allow yourself the moral misstep. Dan is quietly selfish and insecure. You realize early on there's an invisible bar that he's set that no one can meet or sustain.
At the end of this movie, you'll ask yourself (in regards to family, friends, and intimate relationships) are you the one setting the unrealistic bar, or are you the one trying to meet one? Are you being yourself while also allowing others to be who they are.
"Alice" was played BRILLIANTLY by Natalie Portman. She had the right balance of tough chick and little-girl-lost. You clearly understood she was someone who wanted to be loved and accepted "as is" flawed and all. Doesn't everyone? She was the only innocent one, so to speak, in the entire quadrangle. She gave her body at the end masking her rejection and hurt. We all know someone whose done this or continues to do this. Although clearly misguided, Alice is the only one who didn't maliciously or selfishly hurt someone she claimed to love.
What makes Larry so remarkable is that he understood they were all flawed INCLUDING HIMSELF, but unlike Dan, accepted it. He knew Anna was a depressive. She didn't have to stay "up" and perfect for him. Larry allowed her to have her blue funks because he knew exactly what made her function comfortably. He was quite content in lifting and supporting her in her art of "photographing sad people beautifully" as Alice said, hitting the Anna nail right on the head. Anna was beautiful to the world, but was sad upon closer inspection. Dan never even realized her condition because it was all about him. Larry understood 'you are what you are,' anything better than that was a great moment. Because he understood this, he knew how to manipulate and orchestrate them all into ultimately getting what he wanted. Dan never got "it" in regard to his relationships because again, it was about him and distracting from his own securities. He had lived and supposedly loved Anna, but didn't really know her - same for "Alice." Any revelations as to who they really were, came from outside sources.
Alice told Larry hidden truths about herself because he was totally open with her - nothing hidden which in turn made her comfortable enough to talk.
Julia gave a great understated performance. She wasn't overly emotional, she didn't rely on her sexuality, she simply existed from moment-to-moment as a depressive does.
I challenge anyone who hated the ugliness of this movie to rewatch it with new eyes.
GREAT-GREAT film!
Movie Review: Close To Perfection
Summary: 5 Stars
I was skeptical about this film before renting it. I was hoping it wouldn't be one of those "wow so many big names starring in such a small film that everybody has to see. Bloaded with critics reviews of adoration". I was wrong as Closer was a beautiful representation of the selfish and greedy aspects of humaity.
When i was finished watching it i felt utter contempt for Owen but also utter admiration for him and Portman. Jude Law and Julia Roberts were both quite good in this film but the other two made this film even better.
From the opening scene paved way by Damien Rice's beautiful song to well.... the closing scene featuring the afformentioned Blower's Daughter, I was captivated.
I was content without any sex scenes, as the way sex was described by the characters would surpass any sex scene if in the film. This was the brilliance of the dialogue, there were moments where it is gentle and loving and in a split second it turns to harsh and coarse.
Yes, in a movie where there is a pivitol plot point about Portman's character's name it is kind of ridiculous that you don't find out their names until a ways into the movie. But I believe it shows how in love they were and how much they know nothing of love(a reference to the affairs in the movie).
I realize that these characters are an exaggeration of any real person, but thats what makes this film so brilliant. These characters celebrate the worst in people, and really show the consequences of cheating. It is hard to believe that these characters care for each other after sleeping with others. They cheat and cheat, but yet they still love each other? To understand these characters is to understand love and it's affects on people. The movie left it up to you to draw your final conclusions about why they did what they did.
The dialogue in Closer will probaly seem contrived and ridiculous to some people. But if you understood the film then you will understand just how great the script really is. They say all these things, they proclaim love but yet don't understand what they are saying. This is the beauty of the dialogue. Many people believe this film is about why and how people love one another but to me it was about what is love and why people want it.
I wouldn't call this film a romance as after viewing it, you would not like to link Closer to any aspects of your relationship.
It was great to see Ms. Romantic Comedy, Julia Roberts playing someone who was the complete opposite of the archetype she was crowned queen of. These characters are horrible and miserable people who deserve eachother. I think they should stay together to keep their lies and schemes focused on each other, and not spread to everyone else.
This movie definately is not for everyone. I could understand people being put off by some aspects of the fim technical or not. I suggest couples watch this movie who suspect their loved ones of cheating on them as a deterent. Great from start to finish, definately worth seeing.
Movie Review: You Always Hurt The One You Love
Summary: 5 Stars
"Closer" is a handbook about how not to act in a relationship. It is about deception in all its various permutations: lying, cheating, pretending to love someone, pretending not to love someone.
"Closer" is about anything other then actually being close. In fact "Closer" is about staying as far away emotionally from people as you can: playing games with each other, taunting each other with frank descriptions of intimate encounters and instigating brutal arguments in which the need to hurt and cut as deeply as possible is paramount.
The four involved are: Alice (Natalie Portman), Dan (Jude Law), Anna (Julia Roberts) and Larry (Clive Owen)
Adapted from Patrick Marber's play of the same name, "Closer" several times retains the artificiality of a stage play. Movies are naturalistic, the Stage is artificial and at times the screenplay and Mike Nichols direction leads the actors down the wrong path artistically: for example Julia Roberts, the warmest of screen actresses actually comes off arch and stilted saying some of her lines.
But about midway through, things even out and Marber and Nichols get down to telling their story in movie terms. It's interesting to note that many scenes here remind me of Nichols's first film, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" in their eagerness to go for the throat.
One outstanding scene between Anna and Larry has them going at each other like wounded, feral animals. I can't think of another recent film scene that packs such an emotional wallop. One that makes you wince because, by this point you know the characters well, they use words to slice each other up like surgeons performing heart surgery.
Law and Roberts play difficult characters to like much less love, which is probably what appealed to both of these actors on paper. But Anna and Dan are both emotional wrecks stuck out in a sea of diffidence and indecision and everyone around them is equally coflicted and emotionally closed. But, beautiful failures though they made be, Anna and Dan are nonetheless at the epicenter of this foursome. At times, Law and Roberts are effective and at others not so much.
Clive Owen is the real revelation here as Larry: a Dermatologist addicted to Computer Chat Rooms, from more earthy, humble beginnings than Anna and Dan...but very proud of his accomplishments. Owen plays him rough but sincere and when he tells Anna that he doesn't lie...you believe him.
Natalie Portman comes off best I think as 24-year-old Alice, who meets Dan in a classic "cute meet" manner: she is hit by a car and he helps her to the hospital. Portman, who has played Anne Frank on the stage and has less movie time than any of the other principals, plays Alice as if it is the last role she will ever play: she's direct, she's touching, she's sexy.
There is definitely something chilling and icy about the world that Nichols and Marber create in "Closer." Tread lightly here, keep your feelings to yourself and don't get involved, you just might survive a visit intact.
Movie Review: Closer - My Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Two words: F*&king awesome
Never before have I seen a film portray life & love so honestly/truthfully.
I think that to truly appreciate a film such as this, you have to be at a place in your life where you've: tasted the bitter gall of betrayal, the brutality of lost love, the reality of what it feels like to love someone who doesn't feel the same, and how it feels to hurt deeply someone who loves and trusts you.
I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face during several scenes. I also was shocked, turned on and felt tremendous empathy for all four characters (although I wouldn't say I particularly like them very much.)
Larry: Let's face it, he's a [...]. Having said that, he's very indicative of a lot of men I know - he's horny all the time, sex obsessed, loves women to distraction, and can think of nothing he'd rather do than f*%k. He loves Anna, despite the fact that he's deeply hurt by her. He in turn hurts her, Dan and in a way Alice as well. 'Sometimes its easier to hurt people than it is to love them', and Larry is the poster child for that sentiment.
Clive deserves award recognition for his performance simply because he plays Larry as such a REAL man. He's totally believable.
Dan: I couldn't help wishing I'd seen Clive play the role onstage. I felt sympathy for Jude, and a certain sense of repulsion. He's basically a nice guy, albeit rather weak. I wanted to smack him more than once. Its as though he doesn't know what he wants. When he's in love I'm not sure he can see beyond his own needs and wants to understand the other person's needs and wants. He's a very selfish guy. I think he did love Alice, but not deeply - he never allowed himself to lose himself in the love. He was never fully vested in it, body & soul. Anna is 'that thing he wants but can't have' for whatever reason, and after he has her, he doesn't want her. His cyber sex with Larry is hysterical. Yes, sh*t like that really happens!
Anna: Its intimated that she's damaged goods and feels she's unworthy of being truly loved. Knowing that helps to understand why she does what she does, however it doesn't excuse her behavior and/or actions. She's very self absorbed (as are all four characters to different degrees) and very selfish. She hurts people, feels remorse/guilt and then turns around and does them again. She's trying to have her needs met, but goes about it in rather warped and skewed ways.
Alice: I loved the twist at the end, its brilliant. She really is the angel people say she is -both an angel of light and darkness. Larry makes a comment about her being strong, and he is so right. Of the four, I'd say she has her head screwed on the straightest. Natalie Portman is such a beautiful young woman. She's very hot. Alice represents our ability to love, be loved, hurt and be hurt and our resilience. Through it all, she rises above the ashes to a new life.
And so it is, just like you said it would be...
Movie Review: A Closer Walk with Sex
Summary: 5 Stars
Descript words take the place of boorish visuals in veteran filmmaker Mike Nichols' modern, star-driven masterpiece "Closer."
If we'd seen Jude Law and Julia Roberts, or Clive Owen and Natalie Portman (or any variation thereof) carry out any of the acts verbally described on screen, the film would have promptly found itself in tipple-X territory. Instead, Nichols opts for a far more abrasive, far more vivid, portrayal of the harmful effects of too much sex with the wrong (and right?) people through the use of dialogue rather than visuals. In this respect, "Closer" excels on screen where books have outrivaled films for decades. Using dialogue rather than action exalts "Closer" from an over-powering, abrasive sex-farce, into a vivid representation of malice and sexuality as cohesive, and sometimes inseparable, human traits.
With "Closer" we flicker back to how the cavemen may have reacted so many millions of years ago to unpleasant situations. Here, the most basic human conditions are placed under a microscope. Rather than spears and fur loin cloths, our leading characters sport Gucci suits and divorce papers; they're the same basic, jealous beasts of the old world, with a modern stealthy wisdom of vocabulary and spite that allow for a sentence to hit harder than any deadly boulder or bat.
"Closer" explores jealousy and the best weapon and indulgence that humans embrace: sex. Each of the four major players (it's difficult to put one before the other in importance, as they seem to share equal parts of the screen and plot) carry out brilliant performances (wrongfully snubbed by the Oscars), from Jude Laws' quirky but highly sexual depiction of Dan, Julia Roberts' effortless portrayal of (seemingly) levelheaded photographer Anna, Natalie Portman's role as young and eager Alice, or Clive Owen's remarkable depiction of the scathing doctor Larry. Each character is alive and pulsing on screen. This is a case of four potentially great (and already super-famous) actors giving their best delivery at the same time, thanks to the wisdom of Mike Nichols and the hyper-real dialogue and story of screenwriter Patrick Marber (who not only wrote the play that the film is based upon, but also penned the script).
The cinematography is kept tight on the characters' faces, but distant and isolated when it needs to be. The movie reacts in very much the same way a stage play might: with long shots, lengthy scenes in the same settings, soliloquies and homilies filling the screen time and again with words and more words. But Nichols does a flawless job rendering the film as a piece of cinema, while incorporating everything refined from the pages of a novel and the stage of the theater.
A detail is not left unexamined. Our characters destroy themselves and one another before our very eyes thanks to the realistic motives of desire and jealousy... the very vindictive grains of life that make humans hard to live with... or without.
Grade: A+