Closer (I) (2004)

The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Patrick Marber (play), Patrick Marber (screenplay)

Stars:

Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Julia Roberts	...	Anna
Jude Law	...	Dan
Natalie Portman	...	Alice
Clive Owen	...	Larry
Nick Hobbs	...	Taxi Driver
Colin Stinton	...	Customs Officer

Storyline

Smart-but-ineffectual journalist Dan "We use euphemisms!" cannot decide between his girlfriend, loving-but-clingy waitress Alice, or his lover cold-but-intellectual photographer Anna; herself indecisive between Dan and honest-but-thuggish "You're bloody gorgeous!" doctor Larry. The film, as Tarantino might put it, puts the four leading characters in a box and strips them apart.

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Plot Keywords:

love | photographer | book | dermatologist | journalist | 

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Taglines:

If you believe in love at first sight... Take a closer look.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia TriStar [es] Sony Pictures

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Closer: Llevados por el deseo

Filming Locations:

Cowcross Street, Clerkenwell, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$46,447 (Finland) (4 February 2005)

Gross:

£7,968,183 (UK) (18 February 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Inside Track 2, Aquarium Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 98 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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."

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Goofs

Gaffer tape actor marks on the white rug when Dan is in Larry's office.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Alice: Hello, stranger.

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Connections

References Blue Velvet (1986)

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Soundtracks

"World Outside"
Written by Colin Devlin and Peter Devlin
Performed by The Devlins
Courtesy of Universal Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Who's afraid of Closer?

Mike Nichols directed, in my opinion, one of the three best adaptations from stage to screen. "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf" (The other two being Sidney Lumet's "Long day's journey into night" and Elia Kazan's "A Streetcar named Desire) After the extraordinary television adaptation of "Angels in America" I also would have pleaded with Mike Nichols to do "Closer" Sorry I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say in a rather convoluted way is, simply, thank you Mr. Nichols. Adult themes, conceived and performed by adult artists. I hope it makes zillions of dollars so we can have more of it. Jude Law is a Peter O'Toole without the steroids, Julia Roberts a Jeanne Moreau with an American passport, Clive Owen is a child of John Garfield and Peter Finch and Natalie Portman a Jean Peters with a college degree. I saw the film twice in a row, I hadn't done that in years. Not since "Drugstore Cowboy", "Apartment Zero" and "Sex Lies and Videotape" The unfolding of the dark happens in front of our eyes and it feels chillingly familiar. Lies we tell each other with so much conviction with so much honesty. The only real thing is the pain and the loneliness. It doesn't sound like a very entertaining night out but believe me, it is. Go, see for yourself. You may have to confront something you didn't want to confront. That's part of the process call growing up. Who's afraid of that?