Closer
(Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B Extras: C- Film: B
Patrick
Marber’s writing career has been a strong one.
The sometimes actor recently wrote the sharp screenplay for the terrific
film version of Notes On A Scandal
(reviewed elsewhere on this site) but from another author’s book. In the case of Closer, he wrote the original play, then turned it into a
screenplay. A big stage hit, many were
struck by its graphic language and mature sexual honesty. We see much of the former, but little of the
latter these days, a combination that reminded some of the early work of stage
director turned major film director Mike Nichols. Luckily, it is Nichols who directed the
feature film version.
So how
respected does Nichols remain decades later as a formidable filmmaker? High enough to get a cast that includes Julia
Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen, the latter two of which
received Supporting acting Oscar nominations for their work here.
We open
with Alice (Portman) walking the streets alone at first, ready to possibly
throw her life away, than the film flashes back to our story of two couples
whose lives cross each other. The
crossing happens when businessman Larry (Owen) finds photographer Anna
(Roberts) in one of those Internet chat rooms and the language and intent gets
explicit off the bat. Dan (Law) is also
involved with Anna, but is about to get involved with Alice and without any
hint of an idiot plot, the most interesting love quadrangle in years is about
to collide.
Everyone
here is in top acting form, with Roberts in one of the boldest and most
risk-taking roles she’ll ever deliver, Law holding back in a very thankless and
shocking way, Portman proving she is no flash in the pan and Owen showing his
range and how widely he can play his masculinity. This is Nichols best film since at least Wolf and Primary Colors, up there with his very best work. Instead of repeating himself, he is
revisiting his most intimate observations as we see his knowing view on how
things have changed and remained the same in male/female relationships.
Sometimes,
the dialogue seems like the characters are talking at each other, other times
too each other, but the point is that the characters themselves are not sure
and this is purposely ambiguous. We and
they never know if they are communicating or reaching each other. Part of the problem is their isolation, the
other the various technology they are too attached to whether they realize it
or not, the kind that builds a guided cage of professionalism that takes away
form their individuality in a way earlier lovers in Nichols’ films were not
encumbered by.
In this,
the title of the film is constantly ironic and makes for one of 2004’s
smartest, best films. Its early arrival
on Blu-ray is a plus for us all.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image is a really good and improves on the fairly
good in the Superbit DVD released of the film by eliminating softness issues
and depth problems. This is much more
like the fine cinematography Director Of Photography I saw in the 35mm prints
as shot by Stephen Goldblatt, A.S.C., B.S.C., with the kind of intimacy that
intentionally reminds us of Nichols’ early classics: The Graduate and Carnal
Knowledge. This may be his best work
since Peter Hyams’ Outland in 1981. Note the shots in the aquarium. They in particular make for very interesting
demo material.
The
original Superbit DVD included a DTS track, which is not included here. The lesser Dolby digital 5.1 mix is and in
many languages, but the PCM 16/48 5.1 mix is actually a little better than the
DTS and the preferred track for playback.
Dialogue is clean and clear, Steven Patrick Morrissey’s score is easy to
underrate and the general sound field has good ambiance throughout and kicks in
when necessary. Combined with the HD
picture, this is one of Sony’s best in the format so far even if the sound is
not a drop-over sonic wonder.
The only
extra is a Music Video by Damien Rice of his song The Blower’s Daughter tied to this film, but more would have been
nice. Now if only Sony would issue
Nichols’ Wolf in Blu-ray.
- Nicholas Sheffo
