Closer

An intimately conceived romantic drama, clearly inspired by the theatrical version, whose success is supported by excellent dialogues, a quality screenplay, and top-notch acting performances. Since the film is based on a play, a significant part of the story takes place indoors, somewhat resembling a more expensive television production. All four of the engaged stars deserve the highest rating for their performance, although Julia Roberts lags behind just a bit. It is reliably directed by the experienced Mike Nichols, with visually appealing shots of Natalie Portman dressed as a stripper, which will be sure to attract male viewers. Compared to the theatrical version, the film concludes much more sentimentally and romantically. Overall impression: 90%. (06/21/2006)

When a relationship is a personal danger and the thought of a more serious commitment suddenly becomes unpleasant. Nichols knows how to implant an unbearable bug of uncertainty and ignorance over loved ones and thus sounds the alarm about the meaning of their search. Sometimes you just don't want to know everything about the other person, and only a minute after midnight will you realize what was the key aspect of your emotions. The mystery of the other. And then it's too late to avoid all the cruelties because no matter what you say now, nothing will ever be the same. You will lose yourself and yet still be close. By touch - but without it. Emotional mess, but cinematic perfection. (07/17/2005)

A soap opera for discerning viewers. Provocative, impudent, sleazy, artfully filmed (with respect to the possibilities of the interior sets) and, mainly, fantastically acted. Love, deceit, intrigue, revenge. But there is a little too much of that in the last third – a bit of detached humor would have helped. (03/23/2005)

A huge disappointment for me, unfortunately... the whole thing was chaotic and above all insanely sleazy. The only one who kept her poise in my eyes was Julia Roberts. So overdone and needlessly depressed. Clive Owen was completely unappealing here and Natalie Portman seemed so flaccid. Jude Law was once again a little off... Even though the film was up for 4 stars, I'm only giving 3 and will try to forget the whole thing. (02/11/2011)

Sexually open, but not explicit (on a verbal level only). The acting quartet is impressive, the individual actors remarkably type-matched to their characters, and the overall performance comes across as a little over-the-top in places, but impressive theatrically. Some of the dialogue is very peppy, but there’s a good deal of justification in its bluntness and crudeness if you can identify with the individual characters and empathize with their feelings, at least for a moment. A cruel, cynical, and very enlightening drama with excellent directing and outstanding performances. My first Mike Nichols. (09/28/2011)