In my college Theater class we watched the film adaptation of David Mamet's Oleanna which has only two speaking roles. As you watch it, you gradually start to feel like all the extras populating the hallways have gags over their mouths, that is not the case with Closer. Here, Mike Nichols and his collaborators are able to make you feel like these people actually live in the real world. This is no small feat. But then again we are also talking about the man who began his film career with the masterful adaptation of the play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? so of course it works. In fact I think this film completes a triptych which began with that film. Virginia Woolf, Carnal Knowledge and Closer. A trilogy of gut-wrenching examinations of interpersonal relationships? What could be more fun?
Obviously this film isn't fun, but damn is it riveting! The first time I saw this was at someone's house. It was a late night get together and I didn't know the people. The movie was still in theaters and they had a bootleg copy that they decided to put in. A little bit over an hour into the movie, the friend who had brought me decided it was time to leave. I threw the biggest hissy fit of my adult life!
Mercifully it was only about a month or two before it came out on video and I was able to see how it ended. And doubly mercifully, the ending actually lived up to the front half. All of the actors are at the top of their respective games and as a result every single line is able to sting with brutal emotional honesty. This film really and truly takes it out of you. But it's definitely worth the ride, and even worth a hissy fit or two. Oh, and it also has Natalie Portman as a stripper if that does anything for you.
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