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Mike Nichols once again proves why he is one of the world's greatest living directors. After years of making such perfect films as "The Graduate" and 2003's "Angels In America," he now offers us "Closer," an unflinching frank film about love, sex, relationships and the cold, hard truth to it all. There may not be a single truth in "Closer," but than again there may also not be a single lie. Based on the play by Patrick Marber, "Closer" feels more like the stage than the screen. Located in London, the film only has four main characters: Alice (Portman), the American stripper muse; Dan (Law), the obits writing, failed novelist native; Anna (Roberts), an American photographer; and Larry (Owen), the very sexually driven dermatologist. "Closer" opens up with Damien Rice's beautiful 'The Blower's Daughter' and an oddly fate-like meeting between Alice and Dan. It's a meeting in which they slowly fall in love with each other, as we slowly feel a connection with them. Alice tells Dan she use to be a stripper in New York and with her wildly dyed short red hair and free spirited demeanor, it's almost believable. Dan tells Alice he has a girlfriend named Ruth and with his charm, good looks and what seems to be good nature, it's almost a given. Yet, because of the days events, they will become one. The next scene jumps a few years and has Dan in a studio apartment, from obituary writer to novelist, Ruth to Alice and now his eyes and heart set on Anna, who's photographing him. Now the word "love" is thrown around in "Closer" more often than the word "hello" and although some may question the character's true feelings, I always believed them because of the sincerity of the performances and the structure of the script. It's not really a stretch to believe Alice would stay with Dan after knowing something happen between him and Anna just moments before she entered the photo shoot. Which means it's not really a stretch to believe Alice would still love Dan after he's told her of his year long affair. And I believe there's more truth in Alice just asking him to hold her after she's been revealed this news, than there would have been had she slapped him and screamed. "Closer" shows us, thankfully, that love isn't always a passionate fight. Sometimes it's lonely shared tears. There's a lot of sex in "Closer," however due once again to the brilliance of the filmmakers, none is ever shown, only discussed in crystal clear detail. Sometimes too much detail. Take for instance a scene in which Anna tells Larry, now her husband, all the dirty little things she likes to do with Dan. The dialogue and tension of the scene makes you crawl in your own skin, yet because of the performances, you can't turn away. And in the end, the performances are what really needs to drive the film. Jude Law is fantastic as Dan, a man I wanted to hate, yet sadly felt some sort of unshakable connection to. In certain scenes Law plays Dan with so much security, so much confidence, yet at the same time he slowly exposes the loneliness and crazy aspects that resides in him. He's a broken man and no scene portrays his world crashing down quite clearer than his first and last face-to-face exchange with Larry. Portman is the other star who really shines here and proves why thrity years from now she's still going to be a working actress. She plays Alice perfectly and almost without even breaking a sweat. Alice, like Portman in real life, is just a young woman whose wise beyond her years. Portman easily shows the strength Alice has as she flirts with Larry in what can only be an attempt for revenge, yet in the split second Larry walks away, Portman portrays the heartbreak and possible disgust for her own actions absolutely perfectly. Later in the film, Portman shows the true innocence in Alice as she confidently struts herself around stripping for Larry. We know that this isn't really who Alice is, but maybe who she just wants to be. And bravo to the filmmakers for showing us Alice's heart before we're shown her sexuality because now by the time we arrive at the strip club, it's not arousing, but devastating. In that same scene, Larry thanks Alice for her "sincere honesty" and at this time I would like to thank Nichols, Marber and the principal stars for their sincere honesty. "Closer" is probably the best made film I saw in 2004; it wasn't my favorite, nor was it as touching or effective as others, but it was crafted by the filmmakers so perfect and honestly that it's sad Hollywood doesn't make films like "Closer" more often. Maybe and hopefully this won't be the last time they do. email this review to a friend
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