Closer

With some people, the worst thing they can ask is “Tell me the truth,” and the worst thing they can say is “I love you.” They don’t want the truth, and they don’t have the foggiest notion of love, except of self, and are concerned only with possession. This movie is a very cynical view of human beings that, I’m sorry to say, is all too often accurate. It reminds me very much of Mike Nichols’ earlier movie Carnal Knowledge. It is also a lot like Raging Bull, the only difference being that these people are very smart, and wouldn’t dream of hitting each other. They know that words can hurt more. The dialogue is wonderfully sharp and all four actors eat it up and deliver it like fencers moving in for the kill. This is a very good movie, but don’t expect to like anybody in it.