Closer (2004)

Last updated:
September 15, 2025

Mike Nichols’ Closer (2004) is a sharp, dialogue-heavy romantic drama that dissects love, lust, and betrayal with brutal honesty. Based on Patrick Marber’s acclaimed play, the film takes us into the tangled relationships of four people whose desires and weaknesses push them into painful cycles of intimacy and betrayal.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Meeting at the Hospital

The film begins with Dan (Jude Law), a struggling writer, meeting Alice (Natalie Portman), a young American stripper, after she is hit by a car in London. Dan accompanies her to the hospital, and they soon begin a relationship.

Dan Meets Anna

A year later, while promoting his book—which is inspired by Alice’s life—Dan meets Anna (Julia Roberts), a photographer. Dan immediately falls for her, despite being with Alice. He pursues Anna, but she initially rejects him.

The Internet Prank and Larry’s Entrance

In a cruel twist of fate, Dan pretends to be Anna in a sex chat room and lures Larry (Clive Owen), a dermatologist, into a meeting. When Larry shows up expecting a date with “Anna,” he meets the real Anna by coincidence. They eventually begin a relationship.

Love Quadrangle Intensifies

Dan leaves Alice for Anna, while Anna leaves Larry for Dan. Later, Larry and Alice meet at a strip club where Alice works, leading to an emotionally intense scene between them. Larry is aggressive, blunt, and deeply wounded by betrayal, but he is also strangely drawn to Alice’s honesty.

Confrontations and Breakups

The characters continue to circle each other, switching partners, lying, and confessing. Each confrontation is raw, filled with vicious dialogue that exposes their insecurities and desires. Trust, once broken, is never repaired, and every relationship in the film collapses under the weight of deceit.

Movie Ending

The ending is deliberately bleak. After many betrayals and reunions, Alice returns to New York. Dan later discovers that Alice’s real name is Jane Jones—a secret she had kept from everyone, including him. Dan is left devastated by her departure and her refusal to reconcile. Meanwhile, Larry and Anna’s relationship also ends in bitterness.

The film closes with Alice (as Jane) walking through New York City. She crosses a street in a scene that mirrors the film’s opening, creating a cyclical sense of inevitability—her life continues, but the relationships she left behind are shattered. The ending underscores the central theme: love and desire are often corrosive forces, and honesty is rare, sometimes destructive, but always necessary.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Closer does not include any post-credits scenes. The story ends with Alice walking alone, and the credits roll without additional footage.

Type of Movie

The film is a romantic drama with elements of psychological realism. It focuses less on plot twists and more on dialogue and character-driven conflict.

Cast

Jude Law as Dan
Natalie Portman as Alice (Jane)
Julia Roberts as Anna
Clive Owen as Larry

Film Music and Composer

The film features a haunting score by Jarvis Cocker and Damien Rice. The most iconic song is Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter”, which perfectly frames the film’s melancholy tone and is used in the opening and closing scenes.

Filming Locations

Closer was filmed largely in London, with key locations including:

The London Aquarium, where Dan and Anna’s relationship begins.
Postmodern London streets and apartments, grounding the story in a very real, contemporary setting.
The strip club scene with Alice and Larry, one of the most emotionally intense sequences.

London itself is important—it becomes a backdrop for modern relationships, its sleek and cold architecture reflecting the emotional detachment of the characters.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Award Nominations:
- Natalie Portman (Best Supporting Actress)
- Clive Owen (Best Supporting Actor)
Golden Globe Awards:
- Wins for Portman and Owen in Supporting categories.
BAFTA nominations and other accolades, primarily recognizing the acting and screenplay.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Patrick Marber adapted his own play into the screenplay, keeping much of the sharp, confrontational dialogue intact.
Clive Owen originally played Dan in the stage version but was cast as Larry in the film, a role that won him the Golden Globe.
Natalie Portman initially refused the role due to the explicit nature but later reconsidered, saying it was one of her most challenging and rewarding performances.

Inspirations and References

The movie is adapted from Patrick Marber’s 1997 stage play of the same name. The play is more confined in setting (as typical in theater), while the film opens up the world through locations around London, making the characters’ entanglements feel even more exposed.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While no official alternate ending exists, director Mike Nichols confirmed that certain extended scenes were cut for pacing, including more of Alice’s backstory. The ending remained faithful to the play, emphasizing the cyclical nature of heartbreak.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Since the movie is based on a play rather than a novel, the primary difference lies in the expansion of setting. The play is minimalist, confined to a few locations, whereas the film embraces London’s modern cityscape.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Alice’s and Larry’s brutal strip club encounter.
The aquarium scene where Anna and Dan kiss for the first time.
The hotel confrontation between Larry and Anna, where he coldly interrogates her about her affair with Dan.
The ending revelation of Alice’s real name.

Iconic Quotes

Alice to Dan: “Hello, stranger.”
Larry to Anna: “Why isn’t love enough?”
Alice: “I don’t love you anymore. Goodbye.”
Larry to Dan: “You’re a tourist. I’m a native. You just don’t know the territory.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The repeated phrase “Hello, stranger” serves as both a motif and emotional anchor, appearing at the beginning and later as a devastating farewell.
Alice’s hidden identity (Jane Jones) reflects the theme of illusion vs. truth in relationships.
The use of Damien Rice’s song at both ends of the film reinforces the cyclical structure.

Trivia

Julia Roberts reportedly called the dialogue some of the harshest she had ever performed.
The film’s strip club scene between Portman and Owen was heavily discussed for its rawness and emotional brutality.
Mike Nichols, known for The Graduate, directed Closer as one of his final films.

Why Watch?

If you want a brutally honest exploration of modern love, Closer is essential. It strips relationships down to their rawest form—no clichés, no soft landings—just passion, deceit, and painful truths.

Director’s Other Movies

The Graduate (1967)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Working Girl (1988)
The Birdcage (1996)

Closer (2004)