Review of Closer (2013) by Tara G — 30 Jan 2010

Mark Kermode has been discussing the notion of 'depressing' films, and can a good film be depressing? I think Closer really nails it.

It is a very-well written (wordy, adapted from a play), beautifully-staged and acted ensemble piece, featuring 4 people, beautiful on the outside but pretty rotten within. It is richly textured and covers lots of issues, and the characters are extremely-well-drawn.

But some of its messages are pretty depressing. The men are childish, venal and competitive. Everything is a struggle that requires them to get the better hand to maintain any sort of self-esteem. They appear incapable of restraint in any sense. The women are also utterly lacking in self-esteem, deceitful and shallow. Whoop-de-doo.

Clive Owen is terrific, my favourite of the leading foursome, and Natalie Portman is a revelation, so much better than those awful Star Wars scenes. The direction and staging is impressive and there are some great scenes, especially Clive Owen and Julia Roberts' confrontation...