I’ve been wondering why honesty is so valued, because deception seems to be what everyone operates on. This movie… honestly, it was a surprise I hadn't seen it before, but now that I have, I only have two things to say about it. The actors portraying the four main characters gave solid performances; however, I didn’t develop any emotional connection with them whatsoever by the time the credits rolled.

Dan, the writer played by Jude Law, enjoys evenings spent chatting online with men while his girlfriend Alice, portrayed by Natalie Portman, is away. One evening, he orchestrates a meeting between doctor Larry, brought to life by Clive Owen, and a woman named Anna, promising them an encounter at the aquarium. The eager physician arrives only to find that Dan has instead sent another Anna—his occasional lover and phot…

Those who find something appealing about the imperfect people in _Closer_ and their destined failures might be onto something. My appreciation for it comes from its structure; it’s fundamentally shaped like a square. The various pairings of affection and camaraderie, as well as bitterness and anger, involving two men and two women are arranged with precision. Usually, a reliable love triangle involves three people, f…