Closer Quotations

Closer is a 2004 film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Patrick Marber, who also wrote the play on which the film is based. It centers on the relationships and infidelities of Anna (played by Julia Roberts), Dan (Jude Law), Alice (Natalie Portman) and Larry (Clive Owen).
If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking.

Alice

Hello, stranger.

Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off... but it's better if you do

It's a lie. It's a bunch of sad strangers photographed beautifully, and... all the glittering assholes who appreciate art say it's beautiful 'cause that's what they wanna see. But the people in the photos are sad, and alone... But the pictures make the world seem beautiful, so... the exhibition is reassuring which makes it a lie, and everyone loves a big fat lie.

Where is this love? I can't see it, I can't touch it. I can't feel it. I can hear it. I can hear some words, but I can't do anything with your easy words.

No one will love you as much as I do. Why isn't love enough?

I don't want to lie. I can't tell the truth. So it's over.

I don't love you anymore. Goodbye.

Yes, I would have loved you... forever. Now, please go.

I'm a waif.

I've been you.

Dan

I'm your stranger, jump!

You think love is simple. You think the heart is like a diagram.

What's so great about the truth? Try lying for a change, it's the currency of the world.

Deception is brutal. I'm not pretending otherwise.

Anna

Don't stop loving me. I can see it draining out of you. It's me, remember? It was a stupid thing to do and it meant nothing. If you love me enough, you'll forgive me.

He tastes like you, only sweeter!

Don't raise your eye brows. It makes you look smug.

You look like the cat that got the cream. Stop licking yourself.

I'm not a thief Alice.

Larry

I know who you are. I love you. I love everything about you that hurts.

Don't say it! Don't you fucking say I'm too good for you. I am, but don't say it.

[speaking to Anna] You'd be my whore. And in return I will pay you with your liberty.

Dan, I lied to you. I really did fuck Alice. I'm sorry I had to tell you, but I'm just not big enough to forgive you, Buster.

Have you ever seen a human heart? It looks like a fist wrapped in blood - go fuck yourself! You writer! You liar!

You don't know the first thing about love, because you don't understand compromise.

That's the spirit. Thank you. Thank you for your honesty. Now fuck off and die, you fucked up slag.

Dialogue

Alice: Do you still fancy me?

Dan: Of course.

Alice: You're lying. I've been you.

Anna: I haven't even seen you for a year.

Dan: Yes you have...

Anna: Only because you stalk me outside my studio.

Dan: I never stalk, I lurk. and when I'm not there, you look for me.

Anna: How do you know if you are not there?

Dan: Because I am there, lurking... from a distance.

Dan: Didn't fancy my sandwiches?

Alice: Don't eat fish.

Dan: Why not?

Alice: Fish piss in the sea.

Dan: So do children.

Alice: I don't eat children either.

Dan: What were you doing in New York?

Alice: You know...

Dan: Well no, I don't. What, were you studying?

Alice: Stripping. Look at your little eyes...

Dan: I can't see my little eyes.

Dan: At six, we stand round the computer and read the next day's page, make final changes, put in a few euphemisms to amuse ourselves...

Alice: Such as?

Dan: He was a convivial fellow-meaning he was an alcoholic. He valued his privacy-gay. He enjoyed his privacy-raging queen.

Alice: What would my euphemism be?

Dan: She was... disarming.

Alice: That's not a euphemism.

Dan: Yes, it is.

Dan: I fell in love with her, Alice.

Alice: Oh, as if you had no choice? There's a moment, there's always a moment, I can do this, I can give in to this, or I can resist it, and I don't know when your moment was, but I bet there was one.

Dan: I want Anna back.

Larry: She's made her choice.

Dan: I owe you an apology. I fell in love with her. My intention was not to make you suffer.

Larry: So where's the apology, ya cunt.

Dan: I apologize. If you love her you'll let her go so she can be happy.

Larry: She doesn't want to be happy.

Dan: Everybody wants to be happy.

Larry: Depressives don't. They want to be unhappy to confirm they're depressed. If they were happy they couldn't be depressed anymore. They'd have to go out into the world and live. Which can be depressing.

Alice: I'm not a whore.

Larry: I wouldn't pay.

Larry: So Anna tells me your bloke wrote a book. Any good?

Alice: Of course.

Larry: It's about you, isn't it?

Alice: Some of me.

Larry: Oh? What did he leave out?

Alice: The truth.

Anna: Why is the sex so important?

Larry: Because I'm a fucking caveman!

Dan: You've ruined my life.

Anna: You'll get over it.

Alice: I hate you.

Dan: I'm sorry.

Alice: Irrelevant!

Larry: I want you to tell me your name. [throws down a note]

Alice: Thank you. My name is Jane.

Larry: Your real name. [throws down another note]

Alice: Thank you. My real name is Jane.

Larry: Careful. [throws down another note]

Alice: Thank you. Still Jane.

Larry: I've got about another five-hundred quid here. Why don't I just give you all this money? [throws down more money and holds some up to her face] And you tell me what your real name is, Alice.

Alice: I promise. [Larry throws down the rest of the money] Thank you, my real name is plain Jane Jones.

Larry: I may be rich, but I'm not stupid.

Alice: What a shame, Doc, I love them rich and stupid.

Larry: Don't you fuck around with me!

Alice: Fuck me.

Dan: Again? We have to get up at 6.

'Alice: How can one man be so endlessly disappointing?

Dan: That's my charm.

Larry: Anna? I got the coat. The white coat.

Anna: So I see.

Larry: I´m Larry, the doctor.

Anna: Hello, Dr. Larry.

Larry: Feel free to call me "The Sultan".

Alice: Why do you love her? Is it because she is successful?

Dan: No, it´s because she doesn't need me!

Dan: When I get back, please tell me the truth.

Alice: Why?

Dan: Because I'm addicted to it. Because without it, we're animals. Trust me.

Dan: I don't wanna hurt you.

Alice: So why are you?