SNMR 5.29: "Closer"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Closer" (2005, R, 104 minutes), starring Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen and Jude Law. The film was directed by Mike Nichols.

PLOT SUMMARY: This is the story of four adults, who happen to meet by chance, and their entirely dysfunctional relationships with each other. Meet Alice (Portman), Dan (Law), Anna (Roberts) and Larry (Owen). I was going to tell you more, but that would just confuse you and ruin the movie for you.

MY OPINION: This deeply confusing relationship mess is really a very good film, but you might not think so at first. Mike Nichols does an excellent job keeping every one's story fresh and interesting. I think it helps the continuity and flow of action in the story that the author of the play, Patrick Marber, also wrote the screenplay. Each of the main characters are incredibly complex, but we only scratch the surface of who they really are. Each actor does a great job in portraying their character. Portman and Owen even received best supporting Oscar nominations but neither won, though I think Roberts and Law could also have received nominations just as easily.

If you can follow the threads of each character's story as they skip backwards and forwards through time, then you should appreciate the complexity of the story, which subtly but effectively demonstrates how fickle love and relationships can be.

***½ out of *****