Finally Got Around to Watching CLOSER...

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 12:57pm

I missed it when it came out in 2004 and kept trying to make time to see it once it was on DVD, but ultimately never could.

That all changed last night.

I ceased to be a CLOSER WANNABE to a CLOSER.....BE.


And it was excellent. Mike Nichols knows how to adapt a play. (And believe me, that is NO easy task.) Sure, it wasn't as good as his ANGELS IN AMERICA adaptation (But what is, really?), but it still was emotionally devastating and great.

My only complaint about it would be that elements of the plot seemed a tad bit too contrived, but the acting and the dialogue more than made up for it.

Clive Owen owned that movie from start to finish.

By the way, does anyone know if there's anywhere on the internet where I can find JPG stills of the photogs that Julia Roberts' character takes?

[BluCat500]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 12:59pm

The last time I watched that I ended up puking all night...That *may* not have been the movie's fault however...

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:05pm

Really you liked it? I wanted to gouge my eyes out I hated it so much. Performance wise, I loved everyone except for Julia Roberts. I've never liked her, I probably never will. And yeah maybe it is the script or the plot but I found the whole thing ridiculously unnecessary.

Not my favorite...as you can see.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:08pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Sally...

funniest post in a while.

Really you liked it? I wanted to gouge my eyes out I hated it so much.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:10pm

I found it intriguing and can't tell if I liked it or hated it. It was ok I suppose, fine actors, Natalie Portman is so captivating. I'm not saying shes a good actress or not, but I love watching her

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:32pm

I hate the play, I hate the movie. It's just dumb.

[chealion313]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:58pm

I bought the dvd, thinking I'd love it and ended up hating it so much that I'll be listing it on Ebay soon...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 11:44pm

For once I agree with ZONEACE. Who in their right minds would actually find these twitty characters worth caring about?
For a real, scathing, and genuinely emotional plumbing of the same depths, I suggest you check out the Peter Nichols' play PASSION PLAY or the film SHOOT THE MOON.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 12:04am

Exactly Borstal. I saw the movie before i saw the play (and the pla yi saw was a student directed production at my college) and when watching the movie i couldn't stop thinking "why the **** should i care about these people?" They are all horrible human beings and we are literally given no reason to care. The play is a waste of paper.

[blueroses]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 12:08am

Eh. I expected more. Clive Owen was the one thing that kept me from disliking it completely. Jude Law more than held his own, but I was just floored by Clive.

Re: Natalie Portman. I really like her, but I didn't see her as being so outstanding in this, and don't get all the accolades she received. Not so sure it was nomination-worthy either. She was GREAT in Garden State--much better than in this (in my opinion).

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 12:29am

I agree, I like Portman better in Garden State then in Closer.

I love the play, like the movie very much. Dislike Julia Roberts and wanna have Clive Owen's babies.

Cate Blanchett was originally Anna instead of Julia, but she had to drop out because of the birth of one of her children.

[respeck]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:27am

I swear I first read this, "Finally Got AROUSED Watching.."

Ha ha. It's late.

If it helps, it bored me a little and I had a hard time finishing it. No where near Angels.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 5:48am

Interesting to read people's thoughts on this movie. I actually thought Natalie Portman acted circles around Julia Roberts in this movie. I felt Julia was not up to her usual par in this movie and the rest of the cast outshined her. I should rewatch though when I have the time (and money) and see what I think now, since I saw it when it first came back and might been in a different state of mind.

Akiva

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:19am

I loathed this movie. I wasn't a fan of the play, either, but I think the whole concept works much better onstage than in a movie. In film, the characters just seem more self absorbed, and petty, and just...irritating. The pretentious dialogue comes accross as unnatural, and forced. And I was annoyed at the way they changed the ending of the play (well...they didn't exactly change it. They just conveniently left out the ending)

I do admit that the cyber sex scene was highly amusing. Other than that, the whole thing felt like a complete waste of time.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:32am

I didn't like the movie much. The characters didn't really come off like real people to me.

[blueroses]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:36am

Oh yeah, I agree that Natalie was much better than Julia, but I do think she was overpraised for the job that she did. Garden State was much more impressive to me, and I would've rather seen her nominated for that.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 11:32am

I loved this movie and bought it as soon as I saw it. I was so impressed by everyone, but especially Natalie Portman and Clive Owen. I just thought it was an interesting little movie, very quiet and well-done.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:48pm

Absolutely love this play, absolutely love this movie. I thought the whole cast was in top form, especially Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, and Clive was robbed of an Oscar. I don't understand how people can't like this film.

[PJ]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:47pm

I saw this film when it was first released, and loved it. I recently watched it on DVD and enjoyed it even more.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 5:10pm

I can't believe people ACTUALLY LIKED NATALIE PORTMAN in this movie. I thought her performance was crap.

Clive Owen was fabulous, though.