Closer - Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, Julia Roberts

LOL! Sheesh, okay, so this movie isn't this cookie cutter film, and it's easy to get distracted by the sexual innuendos and comments. Yeah, it's a little uncomfortable for those I think are not use to these kind of dysfunctional relationships...yet that's what made this play into film so critically sucessful.

It looks at the jagged edges of a relationship. It's not a happy go-lucky film with lofty perspectives. It cuts deep because it contains an element of truth in relationships. The harshness amongst couples, the way certain men behave, etc.

Is it a mini-porno? I kind of find that comment insulting for the movie because there's NO!!! SEX SCENES! LOL. Natalie Portman is a stripper, and yes there's a lot of cursing, but it's funny how that's implied by a lot of people it's pornographic...
if there's anything pornographic it's most likely the language.

Anyhow, I wanted to post a passage/scene from the movie that I thought Natalie Portman (Alice) did a great job: *Dan is played by Jude Law*

Alice: How, how does this work? How do you do this
to someone?
*Dan is unresponsive*
Alice: Not good enough.

Dan: I fell in love with her, Alice--

Alice: Oh, as if you had no choice! There's a
moment, there's always a moment. I can do this,
I can give into this, or I can resist it.
And I don't know when your moment was, but I bet you
there was one.

****

Alice: You still fancy me?
Dan: I do.
Alice: That's a lie. I've been you.
 
I totally agree. I love how this movie portrayed not just the cookie cutter we love each other to stay together kind of relationship but the downside of relationships such as all of them cheating themselves and their other halves.
 
Clive Owen was in The Bourne Identity and Gosford Park. :) I love him. :)

As for Closer not being realistic, I think the movie and the play cut to how people FEEL, rather than how they truly SPEAK. The form of the speaking is also serves the function of the piece - the dry, cynical approach to love.

I think it left people wanting more because of the time shifts, as well. You have to remember, Closer covers about three to four years in these characters lives. You're seeing all the highs and lows, but not much in between. It's high drama. :)
 
I went to buy this DVD at walmart and they said i had to be over 17 ...er..lol..im only 16 but my friend told me it was like a cheap mini porno..is she serious..lol..i still want it but idk if i will like it or not..hmm..does TARGET ask for age there?? :goof: lol
 
I've been waiting for this film for a long time and hope to see it soon. It sounds great. Mike Nichols also directed Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and did a wonderful job on that (among other films) so I have high expectations of his skills :)

The biggest reason I have waited to see the film is Julia Roberts. I'm definitely in the minority of movie goers but I am not a fan.
 
Closer has been nominated for 4 FanForum Movie Awards:

Best Supporting Actor (Clive Owen)
Best Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman)
Best Ensemble
Best Screenplay

Meanwhile, I'm desperately waiting for whenever this film is coming to the Philippines. :rolleyes:
 
I saw this movie the day after it came out, and the first thing that crossed my mind at the end was, "Well, that was bizarre."

I thought the acting was absolutely phenomenal. At first, I just thought that the things the characters said and did were absolutely unrealistic and ridiculous, but now that I've thought about it, it makes a little more sense. These were people hitting the absolutely peaks and valleys of love, and they weren't afraid to express their thoughts out loud. Plus, like someone else said, the movie covers such a long period of time that we only get to see the most dramatic points.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was well-acted, well-written, and dramatic enough to keep viewers engaged. While the storytelling method (jumping around in time) was a bit annoying at first, it makes the end a lot more fulfilling, I think.
 
Great posts, guys. :clap: I agree.

The characters are selfish, they're not perfect like in most movies about relationships. They are using the other person, even if they don't realize it.
 
I love this film oh so much :sigh:

Just the exploration of the dark side of human behaviour and relationships is so captivating. Its realistic the way these characters are so motivated by self gain and this search for ultimate self pleasure ends up hurting everyone around them. I love how everyone is just so flawed and basically 'villains' but they're so much more real than characters that you're so often presented with in typical romance films.
 
Yup, I would be so into a Natalie/Jude shipper thread...just at least of them to be in as many movies as they can together...their on-screen chemistry freaking sizzles...just that sweet moment in Cold Mountain where he comforts her means more to me than the love scene between him and Nicole...I so love Nat/Jude!

Love,
Cindy
 
I totally agree. Like I wanted to see more of each couples' relationships, to understand what was going on and why each person was drawn to the other. And I just realized that this movie was adapted from a play, though I'm not sure how that will affect my thinking of the time changes.

Here's a link to review of the play, which then links you to other reviews: http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/dramauk/marberp1.htm

And in case anybody likes trivia of the sort, Clive Owen originally played the part of Dan in the play. I thought that was an interesting tidbit. As Larry, he seemed very solid and powerful and not quite as withering as Dan. My boyfriend says that he was also in Bourne Identity.
 
What I love about this movie was the interactions between all the characters. The lies, and betrayal that they all experienced was so real.
 
I was in the elevator and I overheard someone saying that this movie sucked... and that it was so horrible.

I didnt see it yet but i cant imagine it being that bad.... natalie portman is in it damnit!!!

I cant wait to see it and form my own opinion
 
I know. I loooooove Clive Owen. :drool:

Anyways, I'm iffy about Julia Roberts too...I would've liked Cate Blanchett...but whatev.

Natalie/Jude! If there's shippers, sign me up! :D
 
Agreed. The unlikeable aspect of the characters is actually useful instead of hateful. They're not evil, they're just so self centered and immature. It's great to watch them get hot and cold throughout the movie.



It is a fresh look at people's love life and why they have certain relationships. :nod:
 
Wow, our mothers are completely different. :lol: That totally sucks that you had to stop watching it. It's coming out on DVD soon, so you should definitely rent it.

Sasha
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Finally, an ADULT film with adult themes.

It's basically about infidelity and long term relationships and what it means to be "close" (intimate) with someone in more ways than just sex. Being that it's a Mike Nichols film, this isn't "teeny bopper" stuff (no offense) in that while it has a good cast, it's core story is again, something adults can relate to...

Although, it does bring up the notion of what is love in that is love really long term committments... Or is lust actually the best kind of love because you are giving so much of "yourself" to the person at that moment?

Also...

This should be Clive's "break out" role, or at least one that makes him more mainstream (in the U.S.) because "King Arthur" didn't do that well and they marketed the film around Kiera instead of him.

He's been on the verge of big stardom for a while and he even has another film from Paramount coming out soon where he is the sole lead:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_classics/illsleepwhenimdead.html

"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead".
 
I thought it was alright. Different from what I expected, and still not completely sure how I feel exactly, but for now, I liked it. I thought Clive Owen was awesome. The scene where he finds out about Dan and Anna was phenomenal. Just some mixed emotions right now, because it left me wanting more than it really offered.
 
Just saw it today.

I liked it a lot. It was raw, and it was very intense, and I liked the quickness of the script. Very dry and sardonic, yet it never seemed to take itself too seriously. It was almost like the actors/actresses were just having a normal, every day discussion amongst themselves for two hours. And I really liked when they fought and got mean with each other. It was so accurate, 'cause love is like that.

But Clive Owens was just tasty...I almost wanted to hear him cuss for no reason, he was that hot doing it.

Jude, I knew, would be niceness, so that wasn't a shock to me.

Natalie Portman -- if "Garden State" didn't prove to the world what a great actress she is, this movie will.

And Julia's Julia, so grins and love all around.

I'd see it again. :)
 
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