 CLOSER
MPAA Rating:
 for sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexualityReviewed by: Jonathan Rodriguez Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
 ½Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Comedy, Drama
Length:
1 hr. 41 min.
Year of Release:
2004
USA Release:
______
“If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking.” Impulse reigns supreme in “Closer,” the new film by Mike Nichols. The four central characters have no regard for their loved ones, or their feelings, and go about doing whatever makes them happy, whatever brings them the most pleasure at that very moment. If it means sleeping with someone else, well, who cares? Everyone can be understanding when it comes to adultery. Right? “Closer,” tells the story of two couples, Dan and Alice, played by Jude Law and Natalie Portman, and Larry and Anna, played by Clive Owen and Julia Roberts. Dan, an obituary writer, meets Alice, an American stripper, who gets hit by a cab while crossing a London street. He takes her to the hospital, and afterwards they wander the streets of London; he apparently oblivious to the fact that he is missing work to talk to this beauty. He, of course, doesn’t mind, and in the next scene we learn that, off screen, the two have moved in together and Dan has written a novel about his relationship with Alice. I suppose if anything is to blame for the mess that is to follow (besides the blazing hormones), it is that wretched book, which sets up a photo shoot with photographer Anna. He wants Anna immediately, and makes it obvious. She initially tries to ignore it, but then gives in and kisses him, briefly. The kiss sparks an even more intense desire for Anna - we believe he would have left Alice in a heartbeat had Anna asked him to - but she says she doesn’t want to pursue the relationship any further. More time passes off screen, and Anna meets Larry in a bizarre encounter at an aquarium she frequents. They hit it off, and begin a relationship of their own. The four are brought together at an exhibit featuring Anna’s photos. Dan and Anna once again hit it off as they chat secretly near the stairs, and sparks fly between Larry and Alice in front of one of the photos. After that, the lies and adulteries begin. Each person cheats on their significant other, and lies about it until they feel it is a convenient time to admit they no longer have feelings for their “loved” ones. The four swap places, basically, and go back and forth, until we are left wondering why on earth they would take each other back after all the cheating. “Closer” is a graphic film from beginning to end. Sexual dialogue is rampant throughout, and at times, extraordinarily vile. In particular, a scene involving two of the stars chatting in a London sex chat room had people in the theater I was at heading for the exits. Nudity is shown in the background of the strip club where Alice works, and the film’s profanity is constant. The one good thing, I suppose, is that for a film obsessed with sex, there isn’t a single sex scene to be found. Having said that, in all honesty, this film ranks up there as one of the most morally offensive films I have ever seen. There was one somewhat moral moment in the film . After Dan admits his initial infidelities to Alice, she reminds him that there is a single moment that comes when someone is tempted where they have the opportunity to say yes or no. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” A little self control would have gone a long way with this group. [See our article: How can I deal with temptations?] The content isn’t the only thing that bothered me in “Closer.” The film is based on a play by Patrick Marber, and Mike Nichols has brought the feel of the stage to this film. Very long periods of time occur off screen, and while at first it seems like an interesting approach, it quickly becomes annoying as we realize that all the interesting parts of these character’s lives are occurring off camera. It’s like Nichol’s and his crew only came in to shoot the scenes where people admitted they were cheating on each other, and decided to skip anything that may have proven to us that the characters actually loved each other at one time. “Closer,” whether on purpose or by accident, makes its characters so repulsively vile that we honestly do not care what happens to them. To say that the characters had it coming to them is an extreme understatement. We sit back, rather detached from the proceedings, like voyeurs, watching bad people ruin there lives and the lives of those around them. I suppose the title is somewhat ironic, considering we have not been brought any closer to these characters by watching them “suffer,” and the characters certainly have not gotten much closer either. The film doesn’t involve us, so when it ends, we have not been moved, or enlightened, or even depressed; we simply do not care. While the performances are great, most notably Owen and Portman, they cannot save this film. “Closer” is one of the most disappointing films I have seen in a long while, and will be one Christians will want to steer clear of. “Closer,” which is rated R for sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexuality and language, gets a D+. Violence: None / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Extreme  Negative - I was extremely disappointed in this movie. My mother and I walked
out of the theatre about half way through because it was so disgusting. I was sure a Julia Roberts movie was safe, she has a good record of winners, but this is definitely not one of them. Save your money. Positive - Considering the London stage from which “Closer” was adapted, the film is moderately well-done in terms of photography and production. Jude Law and Natalie Portman easily lead the way, especially with a solid no-longer-a-girl performance by Portman. Negative - I don’t know why I bothered going to see Mike Nichol’s “Closer.” I saw the play on Broadway, and was offended by the language and the content. At least I knew to go alone to the movie. I was embarrassed to attend the play with a friend, wondering how do we discuss something like this afterwards? I did have to laugh during the play at some unintended irony. The doctor was guilty of so many things, but the only time the playwright made any kind of judgement was when the doctor said he was stepping outside England’s universal health care system to see a private patient. You would have thought he was planning a twenty first century holocaust. the guy abused his wife, cheated on her, preoccupied himself with pornography, and was an all around brut and bore--that was okay--he was getting in touch with those inner needs and desires--but he dared to tweak a piece of politically correct dogma, and that was portrayed as deserving a lightening bolt. I should have known: “Closer” was perfect fodder for Hollywood.Dressed up by Mike Nichols and a “respectable” cast, it’s still just dressed-up fodder. But it says something about where Hollywood’s values lie. The Hollywood scribes annoint themselves as spokespeople and judges of society, but they avoid and reject any judgements of the edicts of the sexual revolution that they continue to cherish and celebrate--as we’ve seen in “American Beauty,” “Kinsey,” and now “Closer.” [Very Offensive/1½] —Jim O’Neill, age 51 Negative - [This person did not view this film.] I have a question gave a “positive” review for this film. Would you sit next to Jesus and watch it? I always check this site and
screenit.com which is more detailed. I can’t imagine any christian giving
this a positive rating based on the language and the sex involved. We see
and hear enough of the bad side of human nature without subjecting
ourselves to more. When do we quit compromising and start being
different. Jesus said we are to be in the world and not of it. Can
anyone tell we are different? One thing I notice is that films like this
seen to get more positives the younger the audience. Are we slowly
slipping further down the slope of morality? Positive - “CLOSER” directed by Mike Nichols, is in my opinion, one of the BEST films of 2004, following aptly on the heels of ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, GARDEN STATE and FINDING NEVERLAND. Different films, each one of them, however, there is a similar quality binding them together… excellence and quality in filmmaking. Positive - …Listen, adultery is sin. It’s not an “A” or a “B” list sin. It’s sin. Sin
doesn’t have categories. But what this movie proves is how many lives can
be affected by the simplest, guttural and most profound of our personal
menu of sins - wrestling with hormonal demons. God wants us to experience
love. I think there’s a pretty healthy quality to lusting after your mate.
Obviously, lusting after someone else’s mate is where the problem reigns.
I am human. Married men or women who say they don’t have lust issues are
in denial. The difference obviously comes when you make the CHOICE to act
out those passions. Negative - I watched this movie for all of 20 minutes before I left the
theatre. Not only was it extremely uncomfortable to be watching the sex
“chat” scene, but as a Christian seeing it with another Christian, I felt
it was morally wrong to stay through the whole movie. It was pure evil,
and I hope no one else sees this movie. I give it an F Positive - I watched this movie a few weeks ago. I like Clive owen and
Naralie Portman so I thought it would be good. I felt weird watching it, I almost walked out because some of the language is very hard to listen to. Its very corse and hard and if you have had a
sheltered life then it would be hard to stomach. Comments from young people
Negative - As a young high school student of only 17 years old, I have found
that any film receiving an “R” rating is definitely not worth my time; the
spirituality of an adolescent is unstable and still at growth, and such a
destructive bomb like this can destroy it. Young people need to be
responsible about what they subject themselves to, even when the “17 years
old” license is given to them to watch “R” movies without parental
guidance. Movie Critics
“…chilly, caustic, foul-mouthed anatomy of modern romance.” “…a brutally cold movie, where the characters invite our disgust and love feels like a brittle four-letter word… wears its cynicism with pride but fails to penetrate its characters' souls to discover what motivates the abuse and conflicted emotions…” “…merely comes off as jarring, the copious chance meetings are particularly improbable…and the bitter soliloquies ring stilted in ways even the capable actors can’t overcome…” |
