Closer

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

Closer reinforces the age-old adage that the more deceit, infidelity, or Jude Law you throw at a relationship, the less chance it has of sticking. Adapted from the stage, the movie introduces four strangers whose lives intersect through chance encounters in a premise that teeters dangerously close to chick-flick hell. But once the characters—played by Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman, and Julia Roberts—start swapping beds like most couples swap dinner tabs, the relationships deteriorate into behavior so abusive it would leave Bobby and Whitney agape (around a bong). Owen snags the most memorable role, and watching his cold-hearted bastard extract nasty cheating details from his wife (time, location, position) will have Jerry Springer spinning in his syndicated grave. But the remaining dialogue seems lifted directly from the play, leading to burdensome, over-rehearsed exchanges that make watching Closer a lot like following Liza Minelli and David Gest: The bickering is fascinating, but the flirting is nauseating.