Strangers becoming lovers, lovers becoming estranged: the paradox of oh-so-modern coupling keeps the home fires burning in Patrick Marber's astringent Closer.
Comment
12/02/04
Closer (2004)
69
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:197
Fresh:136
Rotten:61
Average Rating:6.6/10
Theatrical Release:14-01-2005
Synopsis: Are humans meant to mate for life? What drives someone in a perfectly good relationship to cheat and risk losing the one that they love and that loves them? Is it possible to love more than one... [More]
Starring: Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Clive Owen
Director: Mike Nichols
Reviews for Closer
161 - 180 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Sure, there's a rubber-necky attraction to watching these good-looking, half-baked creations living anguished, photogenic lifestyles. But it's unclear if we're supposed to feel engaged.
12/02/04
Everything about Closer -- from its four wonderful performances to Nichols' stunning work -- looks and feels perfect.
12/02/04
Very adult, and very clever.
12/02/04
Next to Closer, most on-screen relationships seem too neat and polite, with tears shed only for effect, and feelings bruised but never really damaged.
12/02/04
A formerly startling string of episodes has become a prurient, static exercise in monochromatic tongue-lashing.
12/02/04
With crackling dialogue, Closer reaches out and grabs all but the most reluctant viewer. Some spectators will be bored, but more will be shaken and stirred.
12/02/04
In spite of the teasing promise of its title, Mike Nichols's deft drama does everything it can to push you away.
12/02/04
Top CriticWhile the technique significantly streamlines things, it also strips away whatever makes us sympathize with or better understand the characters, leaving love and sex as unintelligible as ever.
12/02/04
It's a movie that demands more than one viewing to absorb all its ideas and feelings.
12/02/04
Portman, well, she shines. It's a performance that really does mark her entrance into movie adulthood.
12/02/04
The dialogue rewards us for playing close attention.
12/02/04
Closer gets about as close as it gets to showing how love sometimes makes people do awful things to each other.
12/02/04
"These photographs make sadness so beautiful that it's a lie."
12/02/04
This is director Mike Nichols' best theatrical effort in years.
12/02/04
It's a pleasure to see material this intelligent, a cast this inspired -- and Nichols in his Carnal Knowledge prime, operating with cold, silky expertise.
12/02/04
Smugly offensive.
12/02/04
[The characters'] allegiances shift so relentlessly and drastically that we are unable to tune into who they are.
12/02/04
The kind of drama that some will find provocative and groundbreaking; I just find it mean spirited.
12/02/04
Closer, way too stagy to be a movie, makes minutes feel like hours -- think Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Valium.
12/02/04
Latest News for Closer
July 12, 2006:
Portman Party Pooper: Natalie Won't Be Nude
After a few exhilarating days of hopeful speculation, the dreams of "Star Wars" fanboys everywhere have been crushed as Natalie Portman will not, repeat not, appear... More...
February 24, 2006:
Time to Vote for JoBlo's Golden Schmoes!
The SAGs, the BAFTAs, the Globes and the Oscars are all fine and good, but if there's one voting process I always look forward to, it's JoBlo's Golden Schmoes. It's time for the... More...
January 11, 2006:
Julia Roberts to Make Her Return in "War" Movie
Variety reports that Ms. Julia Roberts, who hasn't been in a flick since 2004's "Ocean's Twelve," is planning to co-star with Tom Hanks in Mike Nichols' and... More...
May 11, 2005:
Fox Searchlight to Do a "Scandal" with Blanchett & Dench
From the pages of Variety comes news of the timely drama "Notes From a Scandal," which is based on Zoe Heller's novel "What Was She Thinking?" Cate Blanchett... More...
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