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- ‘Closer’ Is a Unique Drama Starring Natalie Portman
- Natalie Portman’s Multi-Faceted Portrayal of Alice in ‘Closer’ Is a Defining Moment
- Natalie Portman Has Effortless Chemistry With All Her Co-Stars in ‘Closer’
As a film enthusiast and someone who has watched countless movies featuring talented actresses, I must say that Natalie Portman’s performance in “Closer” stands out as one of the most captivating and impactful performances I’ve ever witnessed. It was a testament to her versatility as an actress, proving she could handle complex roles with grace and depth.
If an actress like Natalie Portman begins her acting journey at a young age, and her career lasts, there will come a film that marks her transformation from a child to an adult actor. At just 12 years old, Portman starred as the apprentice of a hitman in the 1994 film “Leon: The Professional.” This role earned her positive reviews and set the stage for a career that would take her to a “galaxy far, far away,” with her portrayal of Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequels starting in 1999.
Natalie Portman was always in demand for roles, and she excelled across various genres. However, it was her performance in the 2004 film “Closer” that truly showcased her talent to audiences and critics. This role solidified her as a mature actress capable of portraying complex and layered characters. The character Alice Ayres, played by Portman, earned her first Academy Award nomination, receiving a nod for Best Supporting Actress. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Closer“, Portman’s mesmerizing performance remains the standout aspect, a performance that should have won her the Oscar before she eventually took home the award following her work in the 2010 film “Black Swan“.
‘Closer’ Is a Unique Drama Starring Natalie Portman
Under the guidance of director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Patrick Marber, who adapted his own award-winning play, “Closer” delves into the intricate relationships between two pairs of characters. The tale unfolds as the man from one pair develops feelings for the woman from the other, leading to a web of deceit and complication. Natalie Portman plays Alice Ayres, an impulsive American woman who meets Dan Woolf (Jude Law) on an English street after being hit by a car. Their relationship flourishes until Dan, a struggling writer whose book is inspired by Alice’s wife, becomes smitten with Anna Cameron (Julia Roberts), an American photographer taking his portrait for promotional purposes.
Dan becomes deeply fixated on Anna, leading him to join a cybersex chat room a year later and interact with Larry Gary, another English resident (played by Clive Owen). In an ill-conceived scheme to embarrass Anna and win her back, Dan pretends to be Anna. However, things take an unexpected turn when Larry and Anna form a relationship. The film “Closer” explores the theme of craving more than one possesses, feeling unsatisfied even when it seems like everything is attained. These four characters find their lives becoming increasingly intertwined as they experience heartbreak and unveil hidden secrets.
Natalie Portman’s Multi-Faceted Portrayal of Alice in ‘Closer’ Is a Defining Moment
As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but be captivated by the exceptional performances in “Closer,” particularly Natalie Portman’s portrayal. Her character, enveloped in mystery, is undeniably intriguing. The spark of her quick wit and dry humor instantly draws me to her, yet beneath this alluring facade lies a soul grappling with profound pain. It’s evident that she harbors secrets, using a shield of self-assurance and deception when the need arises, as more layers peel away.
Portman convincingly embodies this character with such self-assurance that it’s almost overpowering, even though her role is a stripper, which was initially controversial when the film premiered. Interestingly, Portman doesn’t appear nude in the movie. Previously, Portman was often perceived as sweet and innocent, but Alice was far from that. This portrayal was a mature and bold move on Portman’s part, one that was both daring for her and essential to the character.
It’s possible that Portman’s emotional resilience on set might have stemmed from her close rapport with the film’s director, a relationship that started during their work together in Central Park’s production of The Seagull in 2001 when she was 19. In this production, she also worked alongside Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Portman confessed to feeling intimidated by her more seasoned co-stars, but Nichols made her feel comfortable. In fact, as quoted in the book Mike Nichols: A Life by author Mike Harris, Portman described Nichols as “The only older man who mentored me without any hint of inappropriateness.
As a film enthusiast, I truly believe that he embodied authentic feminism. His perspective seemed devoid of anything but recognizing women as imaginative, intriguing, gifted individuals. This exceptional trait, seldom found among directors of his era, was truly rare and exquisite.
This confidence in Portman made him cast the actress in Closer, and he continued working with great care with her as she had to navigate some difficult scenes, including what proved to be one of her most confident moments in the film at a strip club. During the pivotal scene, Larry has come to a strip club, not knowing Alice works there, after discovering that Anna has slept with Dan. Larry is aware of the past relationship between Alice and Dan and chooses to go with her into a private room. Even though Larry is presumably the alpha in the scenario, Alice dismantles all of that with a confident sense of sexuality and the complete knowledge that she is the one in control.
In the scene, Larry attempts to charm Alice by flaunting wealth and belittling her in an effort to keep his relationship with Anna and Dan intact. However, Alice maintains the upper hand, choosing when and how she interacts, demonstrating her control over the situation. This interaction also unveils a significant detail about Alice – her actual name is Jane Jones. Larry assumes this revelation is yet another deception on her part to mock his intelligence, but it ultimately proves to be a crucial truth that Natalie Portman portrays with great conviction.
This scene appears to flow as it does only because Portman and Owen seemed to be in perfect sync, with Portman’s performance earning an Academy Award nomination for her outstanding supporting role. Despite the raw anger and intense emotions he exhibits, she responds with an unwavering calmness that is palpable. The scene originally contained more explicit nudity, but Nichols respected Portman’s comfort, which possibly contributed to her sense of empowerment during filming. When she says, “‘Lying’s the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off – but it’s better if you do,’” it’s evident that she fully believes every word, making the line all the more impactful to the viewer.
When it came to Portman, Nichols took great care and precaution, especially during the club sequence. At Portman’s behest, he agreed to tone down some of the explicit nudity. He ensured that she was comfortable with the camera angles, costumes, and movements, guiding her through the scene step by step until she felt prepared.
Natalie Portman Has Effortless Chemistry With All Her Co-Stars in ‘Closer’
Confidence radiates in every on-screen partnership Portman forms within the movie, making each interaction with her fellow actors feel fresh and captivating. Her acting chemistry with Law is flawless, taking viewers on a journey from their charming “meet-cute” to the heartbreaking revelation of his affair with Anna. She has only one direct scene with Roberts, which unfolds after she overhears Anna and Dan discussing the kiss they’ve just shared during the photoshoot.
Following Dan’s departure from the room, Alice requests Anna to capture her photograph. Despite Roberts being more experienced among the two actresses at that time, she commands the stage, switching between scrutinizing Anna with unwavering confidence and concluding the scene with a close-up of a solitary tear as the weight of betrayal overwhelms her. As she faces the camera, Alice says, “‘Snap my picture,’” and after a brief moment showing her defenses crumble, Portman expresses raw pain in a single frame.
The movie “Closer,” released on December 3, 2004, received generally positive reviews with an impressive 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics had mixed feelings about the film’s transition from a play, but they unanimously praised Natalie Portman’s performance as her best to date. In his review, James Berardinelli wrote, “Portman, often compared to her role as Queen Amidala, delivers an exceptional performance in what is arguably her first adult role. Like the character she portrays, she convincingly transforms from a vulnerable young woman into a seductive ice queen. Her work showcases both rawness and courage.
In the film “Closer,” Portman received nominations for almost every significant award, ultimately winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. Additionally, she was recognized with an Academy Award nod in the same category. On the other hand, Cate Blanchett won the prize for her role in “The Aviator.” It’s intriguing that Blanchett was initially cast in “Closer” to play Roberts’ part, but had to withdraw from the project due to her pregnancy with her second child before filming started.
It would be a travesty to say Blanchett wasn’t worthy of the award for her work in the Martin Scorsese film, and maybe Portman’s moment was meant to come when she won Best Actress for Black Swan a few years later. That being said, it was a transformative performance worthy of a win and remains a testament to Portman’s evolution as an actress. Closer is streaming now on Netflix.
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2024-12-08 05:32