Closer

DRAMA: (2004, R.) (Columbia Pictures) (1 hr, 40 min)

WARNING: This review reveals plot surprises. Dan, who writes obituaries for his London newspaper, meets Alice, a stripper who escaped a bad relationship in New York and moved to London. Time passes and Dan has written a book about his life with Alice. Anna, an American photographer working in London, photographs Dan for his forthcoming book. He propositions her; she refuses. Larry, a sex-obsessed dermatologist, goes on like fishing for sex. Dan, using Alice’s name, propositions Larry as revenge against Alice. At the assignation, Alice and Dan are attracted and become lovers, much to Dan’s chagrin. Time passes. Anna cheats on Larry with Dan. Dan confesses to Alice who leaves him. Anna confesses to Larry who leaves her. Time passes. Larry finds Alice and has sex with her. Time passes. Alice wants a divorce from Larry but he demands sex. She confesses this to Dan who leaves her. Time passes. Alice gets back together with Larry. Time passes. Dan and Alice get together but he questions her about her relations with Larry. She confesses and she leaves him.

VIOLENCE/SCARINESS: Considerable heightened emotions, often bordering on violence. Anna states she’s been hit before. Dan hits Alice, but we see only the reaction and no consequences. Alice is in a minor car accident and we see some bruises on her forehead and a rather bloody leg.

CRIMES: Stalking (U), Adultery (U).

MORALS, ISSUES & VALUES: All four of these people are obsessed with the act of seduction and completely uninterested in love or consideration for their partners. To achieve seduction they lie while pretending to be the most honest. When they are honest, confessing their transgressions, they use it as a weapon to destroy the others. They confess they’ve cheated not because they feel guilt and seek forgiveness, but to cause pain. On the other hand, they are all obsessed with the need to know the details of the others’ transgressions. After so many betrayals, all trust is destroyed and true love, when it inevitably comes, becomes impossible. Each character seems bent on molding their partner to behave in a the way they desire, to fulfill their personal needs without regard for the other. Diversity Issues: All the major characters are white. Language: Considerable blunt and crude sexual talk, considerable strong vulgarity and profanity.

SEXUALITY, GENDER ISSUES & BODY FUNCTIONS: Nuclear families, dysfunctional. Contemporary gender roles. While there is very little on-screen sex, there is considerable graphic sexual talk. We see the inside of a strip club with several women dancing in very skimpy outfits. In a confrontation between Larry and Alice, she exposes her genitals to him – we see nothing.

SUBSTANCES: Several characters smoke, constantly quitting and then smoking again. Drinks in bars and at art opening.

COMMENTS: A talky drama of four very intelligent, articulate people acting very stupidly and destroying their lives. They are obsessed with sex and allow this one aspect of life to overtake and rule everything else. They constantly talk about love, but we are never sure they are or even what the word means. Their comeuppance is to actually fall in love when all trust has been destroyed and love is impossible. The writing and the language are sophisticated, but put in the mouth of these artificial, nasty, naïve, and unlivable characters makes it difficult for us to identify with them and does not make for a pleasant movie experience. This hermetic study of alienation in the modern world is for adults only. (Reviewed Dec 2004)

STARRING: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, Steve Benham.

ALTERNATES: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff” and “Dangerous Liaisons” are similar, but far better films, in which the people are driven by far more complex issues.