Review of Closer (2004) by Vanessa L — 01 Jan 2010

If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking.

Here's a complicated love story as complicated as love itself. Closer is a story of 2 British men and 2 American women who meet in London. They are Dan (Law), Larry (Owen), Alice (Roberts) and Anna (Portman). Dan is an obituary writer, Larry is a dermatologist, Anna is a professional photographer and Alice is... the strangest among the four. They are accomplished and intelligent but are all emotionally and romantically confused.

We are brought to their complex temptation-filled world as Dan falls for Alice, Larry falls for Anna and, to make their lives and the story more depressing, Dan falls for Anna. We see how Dan and Anna's relationship hurt the two they have left. But they're very complicated that they soon return to the two. The most sympathetic would be Dan... he ends up with no one.

All's under the watchful eye of Nichols who, even after 4 decades, still managed to make wonderful, sexy characters for of his accomplished actors. He won an Oscar for directing The Graduate, a hilarious and candid look at sex made in the swingin' '67. Here, he returned to his sexy side and offered today's audiences his intriguing perspective on love and sex.

It's all about them... and they were all great. Roberts wasn't very loud this time and Law was still as sexy as before. But the real praise goes to Clive Owen and Natalie Portman who won Golden Globes and Oscar nominations for their supporting performances. As the heartbroken and desirable victims of love, they gave sharp, electrifying performances. I began loving them here.

The fabulous script is also very memorable. It's a sweet blend of bittersweet emotions ready to hit you at the right time.

Closer is a magnifying glass to modern romance.