Closer

Swank and stupid, this is as bad as a film directed by Mike Nichols and starring Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law, and Clive Owen could be. Meant to be blisteringly truthful about love and sex, it is more lurid and wearisome than revelatory. Yet again, dialogue taken for shocking and meaningful on the stage is revealed as shallow and stagey by the steady gaze of the camera. Still, there’s a lot of eye candy here, star power and sleek London settings, and some craft as well. Too bad all these talented people were not better employed. Carnal Knowledge, this ain't. (2005, dvd, n.) *5+* (MC-65, RT-68.)