Closer

There's a telling moment in the new movie CLOSER in which Alice (Natalie Portman) is discussing the photographs in a gallery opening for Anna's (Julia Roberts) work. The photos are all black and white images of people in London - and they all look sad. Yet, the photographs themselves are beautiful. She doesn't like the exhibit, Alice explains, because it's a way for the higher society to admire the beauty of the downtrodden state of others.

Her observations in that moment reflect the movie itself, as well.

I saw the film last night with Dan and his ex-boyfriend, along with another friend, LZ. The movie chronicles several years in the carousel relationships of four people. They lie to one another, sleep with one another, hurt one another, break up relationships, love, hate and, all the while, look absolutely beautiful doing it.

Watching the movie with Dan and Hayim hit home in special ways. While Dan and I had never had sex until their relationship ended, the emotions that these characters were feeling were very familiar. At one point in the movie, Dan (Jude Law) implores Anna to take a leap with him - the same words I sometimes said to my Dan in hopes that he would follow his heart.

I think that is what makes this movie special. Everyone whom I have spoken to about CLOSER has said they related to it somehow. Either they had been cheated on, or they had fallen in love, or they had fallen out of love.

For me, it opened my eyes to what Dan and his ex-boyfriend had been through in the two years after I met Dan, before their relationship ended. His ex-bf once said to me that I didn't understand what they had had to endure while Dan's heart refused to let go of me. I think, after seeing CLOSER, I understand it a little bit better. I respect Dan's ex a little bit more. I appreciate Dan a little bit more.

There are two troubling pieces of the movie to me, though: 1) Why is it called "Closer"? 2) Big-picture, what is the movie about?

After the movie, we all agreed it was good. When I said it was one of the best-written scripts I'd ever seen, a couple of the guys were surprised because they thought the dialogue was stilted at times. To me, though, snappy dialogue doesn't make a good movie (just take a look at the box-office disappointment, GO). Themes, direction, subtext - those are the things that make the CLOSER script a success.

The movie isn't particularly enjoyable - watching pain is rarely enjoyable to me. But, it is somehow satisfying. I'd be surprised if some Oscar noms for acting and writing don't find their way to CLOSER.

FINAL ANALYSIS: If you've been in a relationship with infidelity, you'll love this film because it will speak to you; if not, you'll probably still find something to relate to. 7 out of 10