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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
2,311 global ratings
5 star
69%
4 star
12%
3 star
7%
2 star
5%
1 star
7%
Closer

Closer

byJulia Roberts
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Top positive review

All positive reviews›
Only-A-Child
VINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 starsExtreme Characterizations
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on January 2, 2006
"Closer" is a film about four people and the role that truth (or different kinds of truth) plays in their relationships as they try to get closer to themselves and to each other. The mixed reaction from viewers is because while "Closer" is a nicely packaged film and a fast-paced intelligent screenplay; the four main characters are "extremes" or at least extreme examples of the behaviors at the allegorical core of the film. These "expressionistically" drawn characters offend and disappoint the viewer segment expecting realistic and sympathetic portrayals (insert "characters with whom they can identify" here).

But they are extreme because they are intended to illustrate (in obvious ways) certain subtle elements of our romantic relationships. The two male characters, Dan (Jude Law) and Larry (Clive Owen), are products of and participants in the most fundamental Darwinian courtship process. Despite making a pretense of having evolved from the competitive courtship of male primates, they are still driven more by the need to win and secure a trophy than by a quest to love. Likewise Anna, the older female (Julia Roberts), is attracted by the male demonstrations of dominance, both the physical bluster of strength and the mental head games intended to manipulate her emotions. Accordingly her behavior encourages these demonstrations by the males.

Contrasted with these three is the younger female (Natalie Portman) who seeks a man who can transcend primitive drives, loving her and allowing her to love him.

Into this mix writer Patrick Marber inserts the truth factor in an ironic way. Portman's character places little value on words, adopting a false name at the beginning of the film. That she is superficially living a lie is ironic because she is the only one of the four who does not lie about their true feelings or engage in self-deception. Her transparency and detached self-awareness is symbolized by her job as a stripper.

The other three torture themselves and each other with superficial truths while engaging in compulsive deception about their actions and actual feelings, to each other and to themselves. Their duplicity is symbolized by their occupations. Dan is an obit writer, skilled in the use of euphemisms to disguise the unflattering characteristics of the deceased. Anna is a photographer, skilled in freezing a single moment in time uncharacteristic of the actual subject she is representing. Larry is a dermatologist focused on the superficial surface that one publicly presents.

The key exchange occurs early in the film as Alice and Dan discuss how essential euphemisms are in his job:

Alice: What would my euphemism be? Dan: She was... disarming. Alice: That's not a euphemism. Dan: Yes, it is.

Alice's up-front and open behavior causes him to let down his guard and feel a higher level of emotion, but his need to make new conquests and to test his attractiveness soon reasserts itself. She is willing to forgive this until finally convinced that he cannot transcend something so much a part of his basic nature. With this realization she falls out of love.

"Closer" is much like "XX/XY" in its exploration of the mysteries of male discontent although it is philosophically deeper and much better written. Mark Ruffalo plays Coles (the Dan character in that film), but Law's portrayal is more convincing because he does not have to alternate between rebel and wimp, something that Ruffalo could not quite pull off.

All four performances are solid although Roberts is given very little with which to work. Portman is especially good. The problem with "Closer" is that its symbolic message is not getting through to most viewers (at least it would appear so from the many clueless reviews and comments) who try to relate to it on a literal level. But if you like abstract tales deceptively showcased in a realistic package you should really enjoy this fine film.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
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52 people found this helpful

Top critical review

All critical reviews›
into_the_lens
2.0 out of 5 starsMeh.
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on February 23, 2016
I watched "Closer" hoping to be titillated while smartly exploring the characters' complex relationships.
I was disappointed.
Sure, mildly sexy. Attractive people, and often great dialogue at the outset. But as credits rolled I felt a disdain for all four of them. There was nothing smart about them. Complex, sure. But despite the confidence exuded during the "pick up," they slouched into extremely immature reactions when confronted with disloyalty (potential or realized). The responses of the men, in particular, were the types we shake off and evolve from in our early 20s. You're going to drill your lover about every gruesome detail of her tryst? Pointless, small-minded, dark-hearted jealousy. At some point in our lives, we realize we've made our own missteps in pursuit of emotional and physical fulfillment. Knowing some very private things often does more harm than good. And then we grow. We learn to search out people who judge us as forgivingly and compassionately as we prefer to judge ourselves. The realization hits you: "She's got a past, so do I. No one is perfect. I only need to know what's going to affect our future."
*-Personal note: In my dating years, I would always ask women about their number of lovers after we had become intimate. I'm not sure why I felt the need to know. Maybe to make sure I wasn't bedding a 'rescue project.' But I will always appreciate one certain older woman who touched my face, smiled beautifully and said, "You really don't want to know that." It sounded scary at first, like she had something to hide. But her reply encouraged me to compartmentalize that insecurity of mine. And she did it so beautifully, so gently. Because of her, I began to trust my other (better) instincts of judging potential mates.

In "Closer," I thought the men were poorly portrayed as weak and juvenile. The women were shown to be vulnerable, flighty, and incapable of commitment. And all four continually looked to the other side, at the "greener grass," that they longed for not matter how wonderful their present situation. And everyone flipped out at perceived slights.
Not a smart look at a complex situation at all.
Set your standards higher.
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9 people found this helpful

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From the United States

into_the_lens
2.0 out of 5 stars Meh.
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on February 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
I watched "Closer" hoping to be titillated while smartly exploring the characters' complex relationships.
I was disappointed.
Sure, mildly sexy. Attractive people, and often great dialogue at the outset. But as credits rolled I felt a disdain for all four of them. There was nothing smart about them. Complex, sure. But despite the confidence exuded during the "pick up," they slouched into extremely immature reactions when confronted with disloyalty (potential or realized). The responses of the men, in particular, were the types we shake off and evolve from in our early 20s. You're going to drill your lover about every gruesome detail of her tryst? Pointless, small-minded, dark-hearted jealousy. At some point in our lives, we realize we've made our own missteps in pursuit of emotional and physical fulfillment. Knowing some very private things often does more harm than good. And then we grow. We learn to search out people who judge us as forgivingly and compassionately as we prefer to judge ourselves. The realization hits you: "She's got a past, so do I. No one is perfect. I only need to know what's going to affect our future."
*-Personal note: In my dating years, I would always ask women about their number of lovers after we had become intimate. I'm not sure why I felt the need to know. Maybe to make sure I wasn't bedding a 'rescue project.' But I will always appreciate one certain older woman who touched my face, smiled beautifully and said, "You really don't want to know that." It sounded scary at first, like she had something to hide. But her reply encouraged me to compartmentalize that insecurity of mine. And she did it so beautifully, so gently. Because of her, I began to trust my other (better) instincts of judging potential mates.

In "Closer," I thought the men were poorly portrayed as weak and juvenile. The women were shown to be vulnerable, flighty, and incapable of commitment. And all four continually looked to the other side, at the "greener grass," that they longed for not matter how wonderful their present situation. And everyone flipped out at perceived slights.
Not a smart look at a complex situation at all.
Set your standards higher.
9 people found this helpful
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Glitterzilla Dani
2.0 out of 5 stars UNIMPRESSES
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on March 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was a movie where nothing happened. I wanted so bad to love it with all the good actors. Plot was about non-existant. Don't waste your time.
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The Bruce
2.0 out of 5 stars A lot of clever nonsense
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on July 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
An abundance of clever limey dialog about four sociopaths in London who betray each other over a period of four years - a doctor, a writer, a photographer, and a stripper. All claim to be in love but actually jump into bed with the people they betray and then lie about their behavior. They fall in and out of love for no real reason at all. This movie, based on the play by Patrick Marber, is actually described as a romantic drama. It is cold and the characters repellant.
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Tullia
2.0 out of 5 stars A Sordid Nasty Film!
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on March 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
I chose this film because Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owens are in it. I thought it would be good. I was wrong.

This is about two couples who exchange partners with each other back and forth. It is a sordid, tawdry, nasty film. Anna, played by Julia Roberts, is a successful photographer. She photographs Dan, an author, played by Jude Law, who promptly declares his love for her only having met her this one time. Dan is in a relationship with Alice, played by Natalie Portman. By an odd coincidence Dan brings Larry, played by Clive Owens, and Anna together. They marry. However, Anna and Dan engage in a torrid affair for a year. Dan reveals this to Alice who is heartbroken. She leaves Dan and returns to her old occupation as a stripper. Anna tells Larry that she is having an affair with Dan for a year. He freaks out. Larry finds Alice in a strip club and has a fling with her.

It is in the strip club that Alice tells the truth to Larry, but he does not believe her.

There is a bit of a surprise ending.

This film, however, is a waste of time surprise ending or no.
28 people found this helpful
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Rob Bry
2.0 out of 5 stars Neurotic and Twisty
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on October 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
The neuroticism of the characters is redundant and tiresome. The eroticism that all of the cursing eludes to is never in your purview, but the movie seems to come off as a modern day Basic Instinct. But all actors involved should have followed their own Basic Instincts and never agreed to partake in this sophomoric attempt to trash adulthood as if it people never grow beyond puberty. It was a train wreck that you can't look away from because you hope there will be survivors, but sadly no careers could survive this epic disaster of a film.
3 people found this helpful
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MJ
2.0 out of 5 stars Initially interesting but ultimately pointless and discouraging
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on October 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
I will admit that the movie has an interesting opening and is well done. But it's basically a story about people having affairs. It seemed like all but Alice, a stripper, weren't all all committed. It's a little hard to see the main character, Daniel, be such a jerk. In that vein, it was interesting to see how people having affairs can be so self righteous.

Very little redeeming qualities to the movie. But this movie just foretells the endless disillusionment and promiscuity that seems to have completely taken over Hollywood.
2 people found this helpful
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Jeff W
2.0 out of 5 stars Not witty, not romantic, not worth watching
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on September 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
This movie isn't a rom-com, and it's not a tragedy. It's a bouncy ball of screw-ups that pretends to be the human condition. Ugh. It was so painful to watch that I only made it 3/4 of the way through. You don't get to know any of the characters well enough to feel their pain through to the end, and you certainly don't like them enough to.
2 people found this helpful
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Thom J.
2.0 out of 5 stars Filth and debauchery
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on October 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
totally absurd, revolting and disgusting. what is the meaning? why the nastiness and the sinister acts? with such crew [knew of 3 of them and not the Portman one] why the waste of money to make such nastiness? Why the wasting of the crew's time and more so why the wasting of audience's time to see filth that is not necessary to be seen or known? nothing good lives in this world that a film maker might want to make HIMself useful by portraying in a film? yuck yuck and again i say yuck...phooey!
3 people found this helpful
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hillbillie1
2.0 out of 5 stars Drivel
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on September 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
Well that's an hour and 40 minutes that I won't get back. I'm pretty disappointed because I waited a long time to see this movie. It's got seasoned actors in it, but the dialogue was crap and, like someone else said, they behaved like high school kids. Don't waste your time.
2 people found this helpful
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George Kucera
2.0 out of 5 stars Artsy nonsense. Good actors/actresses all playing characters cut from the same cloth.
Reviewed in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ on November 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
It is not awful, but certainly not very good given the talent and script-writing capabilities on display. It had its moments, but always failing because of a monolithic point of view driving everything.
2 people found this helpful
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