Movie review - "Closer" (2005) ***

Patrick Marber's play obviously would have worked wonderfully on stage, because it retains a fair bit of power on screen. Mike Nichols is traditionally one of the most respectful adapters of plays to the screen, and this does work on a level. Where is falls down, I think, lies in two things: (a) the intimacy that works well on stage, with the people actually there, doesn't impact as well on screen, which depends more on visuals and story (b) the casting - Clive Owen is brilliant and blows everyone away, Jude Law tries hard and gives a fine performance but it would have been better had someone been cast who was brilliant - ditto Ports and Julia Roberts, and the film really struggles having not one but two Americans who just happen to be in the story.