Closer, Roberts, Portman, Law, Owens

This movie was reviewed in top newspapers and magazines (eg New York Times) and two of the actors (Portman and Owens) were nominated for Golden Globe and Oscar awards. I watched this movie a year after the hype because I had recalled that it was about relationships, was directed by renowned Mike Nichols (husband of Diane Sawyer) and starred phenomenal actors. I recalled from the reviews that the relationships had a tortuous element. This was born out in the film. What I was not prepared for was the gratuitous use of the f-word, the c-word and a scene in which two men are on the internet at a porn site and we see their typed expressions of sexual phantasies expressed in porn language. This scene does not last long but it is near the beginning of the movie. Another shocking scene viewers might like to be aware of , which I did not think advanced the plot or character development, was a scene where one of the characters(Owens) encounters the stripper character (Portman) at her place of employment. The message is that no matter how much money is paid it is all about look but don't touch, no intimacy, no truly knowing the real person. Apart from those risque scenes the rest of the shock value is in language. As I recall there are no actual scenes of sex or violence. Pain is inflicted by words and the telling of acts (of infidelity). Everybody's timing is off - they love too late, or love is unrequited. Twenty four hours later I found myself still contemplating the movie - it made me think. It is a cautionary tale. As a woman married 34 years I would say there is an alternative to the lives of these individuals - it is a pedestrian view of love, which plods on when love appears absent, dim or obscured, only to find around a corner or past a turn in the road that love has returned again as surely as sun after rain.

emotions and pliars

the story was beautiful and ugly at the same time... it starred some of the most beatiful stars acting in the most human and flawed roles... natalie portman is one of my favorite actresses and since she burst onto the movie stage as a 12yr old in "the professional"... this is by far her most adult and full performance of her career... -clapping-

Psychological Interp. of How One Disconnects Emotion'ly

This film really has a masterful way of showing you the mind of others when cheating begins and the effects. It shows the limits of when one will cut the cancer of the pain someone else has caused and how they may or may not replace it with a another painful vice that they may bring to themselves or others....
and Why?....

Because in one moment someone was too selfish self consumed with entertaining a moment that could lead to MOMENTS of a feel good, short lived, interest that has no depth. If love is made to endure it forces the viewer to ask themselves the question how long would they like to endure and if forever then considers always your mate. ALWAYS.

You see how some connect and relate but not completely to love. How some respond to love and how they could avoid an uneccessary brew if they thought long enough for thier other spirit or half. It takes great inner spiritual strength to forgive this type of behavior. Which one could say the lack of grace or opportunity of reconciling did not demonstrate the strength of the love that was supposedly there.

I would have like to see a sequal that goes throught the storm with at one couple that endured the slight and learned not to do it again.

Closer could have been better

Closer could have been better but overall was a good movie. Natalie Portman as always is mesmerizing and beautiful - no matter what she does and she outshines Julia Roberts in this one.

I didnt like it the 1st time but WORTH A SECOND VIEWING

I didn't like it the first time, but it WORTH A SECOND VIEWING

I bought this DVD because of all the stars. I watched it once and really thought it was not my cup of tea... I really didn't like it. But then yesterday, when looking for something to watch I pulled this flick out and was amazingly surprised. It was really good, and full of gripping stuff. I must have been having a bad day the first time. I mean yes there are some unrealistic moments, but the second viewing really made me appreciate the dialog, the intense emotions and the reasoning behind the male dominance thing. I totally got it the second time. Its really important to pay attention to the dialog, cause its really a cerebral movie. Give it a watch or two… this one delivers. MR

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