Closer (2004)

Dir: Mike Nichols
Writer: Patrick Marber
Starring: Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen

Maybe the ultimate Rorschach test of a movie for all people. Or, specifically, in terms of men and women? The film has no redeemable characters. There's something amiss with each one. There's no saving here (thought it's discussed often) and there's no rising above the ugliness of humanity. It's because human behavior, especially in regards to romantic relationships, is ugly.

I decided to pluck this DVD out of my collection to view because I had just watched Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? via Netflix. I realized that they shared the same director, Mike Nichols, and as I watched Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton verbally spar, I was reminded of Closer and how it, too, portrayed verbally sparring relationships. Both are based on plays and centered on four people--two men, two women. They are both bleak films, but I'd say Closer is outrightly cold.

My husband completed a project while I watched Woolf and at the end all he could say was, "I wasn't paying attention but were those people all crazy? Like, they were in a looney bin, right?" After watching Closer with me, he remarked, "Well, that was the most depressing movie I've ever seen," and we discussed which character was the least-hated. We had differences of opinion there, and that's what leads me to think the movie is so uncomfortable for people to watch because these characters are awful--but inherently human, like the viewer. There may be slivers of your own behavior in Anna, Dan, Alice, and Larry...though I don't know any one who would admit ties.

All the actors are exceptional--I personally think Clive Owens' Larry to be the most remarkable performance. (Natalie Portman's Alice a close second!) He's an outrightly disgusting man: he's a doctor but he gets involved in online sex-chats at work, he uses brutal language and his presence is so visceral though he never moves a finger to hit anyone. But out of all four, he's the most honest character. But I do think he lies a few times, simply as a means to an end....in my own interpretation. Perhaps his fantastic acting was because Owens played the character in the original play; he nailed the simmering temper, the brash masculinity and disconcerting behavior of Larry. The other actors are great as well, but Larry was the most fun to watch. ('Fun' may be the wrong word...)

I hadn't watched this movie in my collection for years--I think probably because it does have a lasting psychological, depressing impact. I must have been in college the last time, which was a very different point in my life. Now that I'm married and, honestly, more secure about many things, including my relationship, I'm fascinated by the film in a completely new way. Again, this goes back to the way it acts as a Rorschach test. Days and weeks later, I'm still thinking about it. I wonder how I'll feel about it ten years from now?

The Best: There are so many great moments in the movie, it's hard to choose with the beautiful music playing over the slo-mo opening or Anna and Larry's marriage-breaking fight or Larry turning the screw deeper into Dan's pathetic psyche or Dan fixing upon a name on the wall or... okay, I will choose one: when Alice meets Dan at Anna's apartment and knowing that Dan has betrayed her, forces Anna to take a portrait of her in tears.

Fact: Casino Royale femme fatale Eva Green was originally going to make her Hollywood debut in this film as Alice, but she dropped out and the role went to Natalie Portman--who garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Rating: ********** (10 out of 10)