Worthy: Strongest Character of Closer

In Closer, Clive Owen's character Larry emerges as an accidental acquaintance of Anna, the result of a practical joke on behalf of Dan. He is intriguing and not quite recreant. The online chat gives the audience the false pretense that Larry is timid. He is anything but this.

As Anna and Larry's relationship unfolds, Larry emerges as self-assured and sometimes callous, but never fearful. He wears his arrogance like a scarf and uses it not only to convince Anna to reconsider their divorce, but to persuade Alice/Jane to sleep with him and Dan to recant his "love" for Anna. Larry upholds his masculinity like a badge of honor and displays it in times of heightened stress and submission.

In the scene above, Larry is meeting with Anna to finalize their divorce. Knowing Anna will comply, Larry purposes that they sleep together one last time. His intentions are retaliation, personal gain and glory. In this still photo, we can see the intensity in Larry's eyes. Brow furrowed and frown lines present, we see he has no intention of allowing this conversation to end without having the upper hand. His hands are folded like most business men in the midst of a proposition. He leans forward, inviting himself into Anna's space; asserting his dominance.

The director was careful to place two roses into the frame, one in the foreground and the other in the background. While the restaurant was decorated with them, the foreground rose reminds us that Larry does have some charm to balance out his more resolute qualities. We are reminded that, regardless of his theatrics, he is still in love. This display is duly noted in the scene where Anna admits her adultery to Larry just after his trip to New York. We see a moment of vulnerability when he begins to cry.

While all four actors did an excellent job of capturing the essence of their characters, it is apparent that Clive Owen became Larry throughout the making of this film.