The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 22 wins & 50 nominations total
Steve Benham
- Car driver
- (uncredited)
Elizabeth Bower
- Chatty Exhibition Guest
- (uncredited)
Rene Costa
- Club Gangster
- (uncredited)
Ray Donn
- Customs Officer
- (uncredited)
Daniel Dresner
- Coughing Man
- (uncredited)
Rrenford Fitz-Junior Fagan
- Bus Passenger
- (uncredited)
Antony Gabriel
- Luke
- (uncredited)
Michael Haley
- Smoking Man
- (uncredited)
Steve Morphew
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Abdul Popoola Pope
- Doctor
- (uncredited)
Jacqui-Lee Pryce
- Traveller
- (uncredited)
Peter Rnic
- Bodyguard
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere are approximately 510 questions asked between the characters. That works out to around 5 questions per minute of run time.
- GoofsIn the opening scene when Alice is walking down the street, the front of her hair is dyed a very bright red but in the next scene when she in the hospital waiting room with Dan, there are only a few streaks.
- Alternate versionsThere are two versions available. Runtimes are "1h 44m (104 min)" (general theatrical release) and "1h 38m (98 min) (TV) (Turkey)".
- SoundtracksThe Blower's Daughter
Written and Performed by Damien Rice
Under license to Vector Recordings, LLC/Warner Bros. Records Inc. and 14th Floor Records
By arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing US and Warner Strategic Marketing UK
Featured review
Flawed and cold, but sharp and haunting.
I've seen Closer described as a cinematic triumph, but it's precisely not. The film wears its theatrical origins on its sleeve, and the presence of the camera is mostly irrelevant.
It also fails in a more subtle way. Initially, I watched four apparently amoral people, devoid of depth or shame, being clever at each other in increasingly hurtful and exploitative ways, and my mind rebelled. This can't be right, I thought, people don't talk like this. Hell, people don't *act* like this.
Then the light dawned. The characters seemed inhuman because they are. They aren't people at all, they're philosophical positions. When they talk, they're not talking. They're saying the things that people only dare think, asking the questions that haunt anyone whose relationship has gone horrifically pear-shaped. This isn't the story of four people and four relationships, it's an attempt to compress everything the author believes about human relationships into a film and bend it into a story. It feels artificial because it is.
With that realisation, I actually began to enjoy it, because Closer is a very clever film. I wish I could disagree with more of it, because many of the things it has to say about human relationships are painfully true. Every mistake you've ever made in a relationship is in here, and it's guaranteed to make you squirm at least once. It's also blackly funny in many places.
Without exception, the performances are fantastic, with the honours going to Natalie Portman's emotionally scarred escapist who wears lies like they were armour, and Clive Owen's brutal, perceptive, and ultimately absolutely human dirty doctor.
Be warned! The marketing campaign may lead you to think it's a comforting rom-com, but it's not. I wouldn't advise going with your partner unless you're rock-solid. You may leave asking some uncomfortable questions, and wondering how well you really know them...
It also fails in a more subtle way. Initially, I watched four apparently amoral people, devoid of depth or shame, being clever at each other in increasingly hurtful and exploitative ways, and my mind rebelled. This can't be right, I thought, people don't talk like this. Hell, people don't *act* like this.
Then the light dawned. The characters seemed inhuman because they are. They aren't people at all, they're philosophical positions. When they talk, they're not talking. They're saying the things that people only dare think, asking the questions that haunt anyone whose relationship has gone horrifically pear-shaped. This isn't the story of four people and four relationships, it's an attempt to compress everything the author believes about human relationships into a film and bend it into a story. It feels artificial because it is.
With that realisation, I actually began to enjoy it, because Closer is a very clever film. I wish I could disagree with more of it, because many of the things it has to say about human relationships are painfully true. Every mistake you've ever made in a relationship is in here, and it's guaranteed to make you squirm at least once. It's also blackly funny in many places.
Without exception, the performances are fantastic, with the honours going to Natalie Portman's emotionally scarred escapist who wears lies like they were armour, and Clive Owen's brutal, perceptive, and ultimately absolutely human dirty doctor.
Be warned! The marketing campaign may lead you to think it's a comforting rom-com, but it's not. I wouldn't advise going with your partner unless you're rock-solid. You may leave asking some uncomfortable questions, and wondering how well you really know them...
helpful•8317
- OverAnalysisBoy
- Jan 30, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Xích Lại Gần Nhau
- Filming locations
- Postman's Park, Little Britain, London, England, UK(park with Alice Ayres tablet)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $27,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $33,987,757
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $7,707,972
- Dec 5, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $115,518,219
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content