2008 Woodie Awards
A Closer look at a darker side of love
Amanda Cudmore
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
In Closer, the darker side of romance is found. The advertising line for the movie is, "If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking". This idea is explored throughout the movie as Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law, and Clive Owen play four obsessive, philandering adults living in London. Law's character Dan, a struggling obituary writer, meets Portman's character, Alice, after a chance accident. Alice quickly moves in with Dan, and becomes his muse.
Their lives quickly become intertwined when Dan meets Anna at a photo shoot, and becomes obsessed with her. Anna rejects Dan, even though their chemistry is clear. Anna then meets Larry and begins to date him. The rest of the movie features a whirlwind of marriage, divorce, cheating, jealousy, hatred, lust, and even love.
The movie, directed by Mike Nichols, has a well-deserved R rating, for its sexually charged dialogue and nudity. The movie is definitely for adults and those not easily offended by sexual content. The dialogue is very powerful, full of intense quotes like this one from Anna, "Don't stop loving me. I can see it draining out of you. It meant nothing. If you love me, you'll forgive me."
If you are looking to rest your mind, this won't be the movie for you, as the scene changes revealing each character's flaws and demons. Julia Roberts plays a powerful role as a recently divorced American living in London, a role different from her traditional sweetheart roles in movies such as Runaway Bride and My Best Friend's Wedding.
Portman's role as a stripper is also a step away from her traditional roles and is the only honest character. Law plays an obsessive needy writer torn between the older, more mature Anna, and the playful exuberance of Alice. Owen, who plays Larry, a dermatologist in the movie, actually played Dan in the London based play version of the film.
Closer shows a side of love not often depicted in movies, the jealous, hateful, vindictive side, and is truly unlike any other movie. The movie skips around from different time periods, different points in the relationships between the characters.
Closer is a dramatic movie that keeps you guessing throughout. Just when you are convinced that you finally have it figured out, that one character loves another character, there is another twist that surprises you again. This suspense is one of the best attributes of the movie; long after it was over, my roommate and I were still trying to figure out exactly how everything worked out in the end, who we thought ended up with who, and who loved who.
At the end, as the credits rolled, there was a gasp throughout the theatre. Everyone was waiting for a clear conclusion and a concise ending, but you do not get that with this movie.
Despites at times being confusing, for its strong drama and interesting plot twists, Closer gets an 8 out of 10.
Senior
History
Their lives quickly become intertwined when Dan meets Anna at a photo shoot, and becomes obsessed with her. Anna rejects Dan, even though their chemistry is clear. Anna then meets Larry and begins to date him. The rest of the movie features a whirlwind of marriage, divorce, cheating, jealousy, hatred, lust, and even love.
The movie, directed by Mike Nichols, has a well-deserved R rating, for its sexually charged dialogue and nudity. The movie is definitely for adults and those not easily offended by sexual content. The dialogue is very powerful, full of intense quotes like this one from Anna, "Don't stop loving me. I can see it draining out of you. It meant nothing. If you love me, you'll forgive me."
If you are looking to rest your mind, this won't be the movie for you, as the scene changes revealing each character's flaws and demons. Julia Roberts plays a powerful role as a recently divorced American living in London, a role different from her traditional sweetheart roles in movies such as Runaway Bride and My Best Friend's Wedding.
Portman's role as a stripper is also a step away from her traditional roles and is the only honest character. Law plays an obsessive needy writer torn between the older, more mature Anna, and the playful exuberance of Alice. Owen, who plays Larry, a dermatologist in the movie, actually played Dan in the London based play version of the film.
Closer shows a side of love not often depicted in movies, the jealous, hateful, vindictive side, and is truly unlike any other movie. The movie skips around from different time periods, different points in the relationships between the characters.
Closer is a dramatic movie that keeps you guessing throughout. Just when you are convinced that you finally have it figured out, that one character loves another character, there is another twist that surprises you again. This suspense is one of the best attributes of the movie; long after it was over, my roommate and I were still trying to figure out exactly how everything worked out in the end, who we thought ended up with who, and who loved who.
At the end, as the credits rolled, there was a gasp throughout the theatre. Everyone was waiting for a clear conclusion and a concise ending, but you do not get that with this movie.
Despites at times being confusing, for its strong drama and interesting plot twists, Closer gets an 8 out of 10.
Senior
History