Warning: Includes spoilers!
I've been meaning to watch Closer for a while now and finally got around to it tonight. The typical short IMDB description of the plot is that it is a film depicting the tumultuous relationship of two couples whom get caught up in a growing web of deceit after they all intermingle with each other. For the record, it seems that Nichols' intention was to create four extremely simplistic, aggressive and surprisingly candid characters that all share one thing in common - a fascination with their innermost fears and what hurts them. The characters are in no way likeable or particularly empathetic - they all deceive each other in a brutal and shattering way one can only dream would be fairly rare in reality, but the film has an essence to it that does not fail to anticipate and almost elevate the brutality between the characters.
All four actors did a terrific job - although I must say that Roberts, who starred as Anna, could have had a little bit more dialogue. It seemed as though she was the most simplistic of all four, being easily adaptable and lured towards her unconscious desires. I didn't find Anna to be an empathetic character at all, as her animalistic instinct to act rather than rationalise and contemplate consequences before delving into deceiving situations was not an accurate reflection of what the average person would do, assuming they were in her position. Regardless, the films purpose was not to paint an accurate picture of reality, but instead rather display some really interesting concepts of humanity, love, passion, betrayal and desire that are quite often ignored in casual conversation and daily interaction between people. The truth is an underlying concept in Closer, and the characters exhaust this concept by attempting to tell the truth with uttermost detail - epitomised through the fight between Anna and Dan, where Dan brutally begs Anna to spare him the details of her deceitful sexual behaviour, in which telling him almost seems to excite her. The film undoubtedly asks a difficult question about the nature of humanity - would things be easier if we were that brutally honest? Are we fascinated, intrigued and almost obsessed with knowing the truth to its very core? And if so, are we then dominated by the obsession of knowing the intricate details of what we are afraid of, or most importantly, what has the capacity to break us?
Closer is not a film that demonstrates a picture-perfect portrayal of relationships. Instead, it focuses more on the fascination, the passion that the characters seem to share for the idea of love rather than love itself. Alice, who had no trouble changing her mind on whether she loved Larry or not by the time he came back during the final scenes, ironically lied about her real name yet told the truth about sleeping with Dan. It seems that none of the characters will ever be truly happy with either of their partners because they are in a consistent battle of indecisiveness that taints their abilities to commit to a faithful relationship. They crave the brutality of deceit almost as much as they crave sexual desire and although their humane traits allow them to feel guilt, the guilt does not preside over their lust for betrayal, nor the kick they get out of deceiving someone they supposedly 'love'. After watching Closer, you'll be confused, questioning how much of a mask we wear when we are with anybody in the hopes that our inner monsters do not escape our minds. Closer questions how one small situation, one small moment and chance can change everything - it can determine whether we choose to unleash the monster within, continuously feed its hunger for betrayal, or tame it and kill it with love - a poison, whether artificial or genuine, that may as well be equally as detrimental.
Overall, an excellent film that will keep you thinking afterwards. I would probably watch it again and have a complete different perspective - which is the brilliance that comes from its mystery and the fact that we are not being given every piece of information. The most interesting element of the film is that we hardly, if not at all, witness the deceit on our own, which leaves us with a decision of how much we can trust in what the characters are saying. It is this sole challenge that allows us to relentlessly question the concept of 'truth' and whether or not we will ever be acquainted with it.
7/10
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