Closer tagged as one of the best of the year

This film is based on the West End stage hit by Patrick Marber, in which Clive Owen starred, and therein lies the screen version’s chief flaw; it has the feel of a theatre work transferred to screen.

Closer

Director: Mike Nichols

Cast: Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen

Cert: 18.

Now that’s some cast!

The film is based on the West End stage hit by Patrick Marber, in which Owen starred, and therein lies the screen version’s chief flaw; it has the feel of a theatre work transferred to screen.

It isn’t, to be fair, a bad film and its subject matter - the lies we tell ourselves when love and lust enter our lives - is always worth exploring.

The story involves the complex romantic lives of two men and two women, and what happens when one of the former (Law) meets one of the latter (Roberts) and betrays his girlfriend (Portman). In the background, with revenge in mind, lurks Doctor Owens.

Owens, indeed, turns in the best of the performances, one which gained him a recent Golden Globe.

The film has been tagged as one of the best of the year but while it does offer its stars some of their best ever roles they don’t quite manage to make the most of their opportunities.

Nor does the film hold together as it should since the characters don’t quite endear themselves to us.

Star Rating: 3/5