Closer

Patrick Marber’s acclaimed stage drama about the romantic interactions of four people has been given a reverent screen adaptation by director and producer Mike Nichols. Dan (Jude Law) is a writer in London who wants to finish a novel, but in the meantime supports himself by writing obituaries. One day he chances upon Alice (Natalie Portman), a beautiful young American expatriate, working as a stripper, when he sees her get hit by a car. Alice immediately falls for Dan, and gives him her love without reservation. Dan is initially enchanted with Alice, and returns her affection, but while she inspires him to write his novel (based on her life), her neediness begins to wear on him. Anna (Julia Roberts) is a photographer who is hired to take a portrait of Dan for the dust jacket of his book; Dan is attracted to her easy confidence, and while the two of them flirt, Anna soon (inadvertently through Dan’s playful machinations) meets Larry (Clive Owen), a dermatologist, and marries him. Dan can’t get Anna out of his mind even though she’s married, and the two become lovers, but Dan is frustrated by the fact that Anna is reluctant to leave Larry for him. Patrick Marber wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of +Closer; it was the playwright’s first feature-film credit., Seduction and betrayal come to the fore in this splendid drama about modern love and the interwoven relationships among a writer (Jude Law), a stripper (Natalie Portman), a photographer (Julia Roberts) and a dermatologist (Clive Owen). Portman and Owen netted Oscar nominations. Mike Nichols directed and co-produced. Patrick Marber based the script on his play., Dan is a young novelist who is becoming more and more exasperated by his girlfriend Alice’s neediness. When he meets Anna at a photo-shoot, his loyalty to Alice is put to the test; but while the couple flirt, Anna soon marries dermatologist Larry. Despite her newly married position, Dan can’t get Anna out of his mind and the two soon embark on an affair…, This frank and unconventional look at modern love focuses on a writer, a stripper, a photographer and a dermatologist. Portman and Owen netted Supporting Oscar nominations.