Cady's Take:

Dan (Jude Law), an obituary writer falls for Alice (Natalie Portman) after a London taxicab hits her while crossing the street. Four months later, they're living together and Dan has written a book based on her life. Anna (Julia Roberts) works as a photographer and has been assigned to photograph Dan for the back cover. A few months later Anna meets Larry (Clive Owen) a successful dermatologist, and then the games begin.

This is a story about betrayal, redemption and the nature of love. The film covers key moments in each couple's love life and focuses on the numerous problems that arise as these jealous, beautiful, amoral people are mashed together and their relationships start to fall apart.

Top honors go to Owen; his character is by far the most interesting as the person caught in the middle of everyone else's dysfunctions. He easily makes himself the center of every scene he's in. Portman is incredibly talented and stunningly beautiful as Alice in her first seriously dark role , and Jude is Jude, enough said. Roberts' character on the other hand, is the least interesting of the four. I thought she was the weak link in the cast especially next to Owen and Portman.

Although a little abrasive, I found Closer to be engrossing and fascinating. The conversation in this movie is provocative and intelligent with lines as vulgarly appropriate as, "Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off." I would see it again.

"Closer" is one sexy movie. Even though I like all four of the actors (Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman, and Jude Law) I think because so much hype surrounded the movie, I was not expecting to enjoy it. All I could think about were the commercials and how overly-stylized they seemed. I was expecting a pretentious movie.

This is the story of four people who entangle themselves in lust and in love, but never with just one person. In fact, all four seem quite addicted to not knowing what they really want, and thus trying to have it all. Unfortunately compulsive, brutal honesty keeps them from maintaining their deceptions. Dan (Law) and Alice (Portman) are a couple, and Larry (Owen) and Anna (Roberts) are another - however there is trouble when Dan and Anna are drawn toward each other, and then eventually Alice and Larry indulge in one another as well.

These are characters that are about dialogue, not action. Although Alice is a stripper, there is little gratuitous nudity. Sex is in your head, and Alice knows this very well so she doesn't feel the need to advertise her sexuality - she's not what you might call a "stripper type". I think that is what appealed to me the most about this movie - people having real conversations with one another - whether or not any of them ever really tell the truth is up for debate; however it is clear that they think they are being truthful.

Watch and judge for yourself. Run, don't walk, to the video store this week and rent "Closer".