IMDb > Closer (2004/I)
Closer
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Closer (2004) -- The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.
Closer (2004) -- Spanish Trailer
Closer (2004) -- The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.
Closer (2004) -- The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.
Closer (2004) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   63,964 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Mike Nichols
Writers (WGA):
Patrick Marber (play)
Patrick Marber (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Closer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 December 2004 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking. more
Plot:
The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 20 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(152 articles)
Film School 101: Protagonists
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 1 November 2009, 4:57 AM, PST)

'Top Chef' Frontrunner Falls
 (From BuddyTV. 28 October 2009, 4:34 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
It's all about questioning surfaces more (851 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Natalie Portman ... Alice

Jude Law ... Dan

Julia Roberts ... Anna

Clive Owen ... Larry
Nick Hobbs ... Taxi Driver

Colin Stinton ... Customs Officer
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexuality and language.
Runtime:
104 min | Turkey:98 min (TV version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The trailer includes several things that are not in the film. - different lighting when Anna and Dan kiss - shots of the driver of the car that hits Alice - a shot of Larry and Anna getting dressed - Larry telling Alice, "You women don't understand the territory, because you are the territory" - Anna asking Dan, "Why did you swear eternal love when all you wanted was excitement? Love bores you." Dan responds, "No, it disappoints me." more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: During Anna and Larry's big fight, Anna walks across the apartment to the couch and the sound of her footsteps are out of sync. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Alice: Hello, stranger.
more
Movie Connections:
References Delicatessen (1991) more
Soundtrack:
Oh, Dei, come veloce se ne va quella barca! more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
100 out of 132 people found the following comment useful.
It's all about questioning surfaces, 6 December 2004
Author: peffs from Seattle, Washington

Closer: A

Mike Nichols delivers his best work yet. CLOSER is a well crafted dissertation on art's reflection of the human condition, particularly the dependence on romantic relationships. It delivers an intimate film that actually achieves depths rarely seen on screen. Kubrick's Eye's Wide Shut only scratched the surface of literal naked lies that represent sexual game-playing on screen. His work came off as a freshman treatise on relationships in a pervy, self-obsessed way. Nichols and screenwriter Patrick Marber deliver a full and rich study on the difficulties of love and sexual tension. Without ever showing a sex scene on screen they are able to portray the nasty nature of jealously, lust and obsession without actually exploiting these acts as Kubrick and countless others have done. The result is a pure _expression of the realization that we don't know anything when it comes to assessing truth in character.

Alice (Natalie Portman), a former stripper, is hit by a car in London as she forgets to look right. Dan (Jude Law) comes to her rescue and guides her to the hospital before guiding her into his life. Dan writes obituaries but soon finds a novel in himself thanks to Alice. While shooting the photo for his book he falls for the photographer Anna (Julie Roberts) who pulls back from him given that he's with Alice. For light-style revenge Dan sets up Larry (Clive Owen) in an Internet sex chat room to meet Anna thinking this will embarrass him and her. Cupid backfires thus throwing Larry and Anna into a relationship of their own. First impressions, like all art, can only show you broad strokes of character like stereotypes and lies. Alice is presented as a young girl in need of saving, literally. Anna is a strong, independent artist who seems smart in her career and choices. Dan is a struggling, sensitive writer in search of a muse, someone to inspire and rescue. Larry is a sex obsessed dermatologist and self-described caveman. By the end of the film, however, the audience will get a deeper and more profound view of all four characters and realize we just don't know them as well as we think.

Acknowledging that film can be art, the screenwriter is skilled with dialog that reflects the illusionary quality that is art. Every piece of conversation, every word has meaning, reflection and sometimes foreboding for what is to come and the gaps in story and exposition brilliantly leads the audience to fill in those elements with their own interpretations. It is those interpretations and broad-stroke impressions that the film is there to question. Alice, in the scene at Anna's photo exhibit, discusses this very concept to Larry when discussing her reaction to the photos and the show. The function is just a big lie, the glossy photos of people's faces don't' show the real person, the fancy people at the party only reflect that same quality. Everything is for surface show - one-dimensional illusions of character. Alice, Anna, Dan and Larry are those photos just in moving form but that makes all the difference. The movement and editing of the film allows us to jump through months and years of their relationships to unpeel parts of the illusion of character and stereotypes. We can explore wrong assumptions about characters and that should make us explore the real-world difficulties of knowing people, really knowing them and not just their image or attitude. Many will just see this film as a sad story of four wounded people making bad relationship choices. This is really sad because this film is truly a great wake-up call to humanity to embrace a new approach and attitude about art and people. Strength can be a weakness. Vulnerability can be empowering. Dependence can be comforting. Nothing can be valued or viewed without bias and prejudice. Great art, like this film, can sometimes achieve a new way to show us how wrong we can be when we let our bias prevent us from just experiencing life and being open to shifts in perception. So take a closer look, at this film and the life around you. You just might find happiness in walking away from the expected.

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