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Monogamy is a deep and emotional drama movie that was released in 2010. Directed by Dana Adam Shapiro, the movie tells the story of Theo (Chris Messina), a wedding photographer living in Brooklyn with his fiancée, Nat (Rashida Jones). Despite having a successful career and a seemingly happy life, Theo begins to feel trapped and unfulfilled. He’s questioning his love, purpose, and career, all while trying to fight off a crippling sense of dissatisfaction with his life.

The movie begins with Theo at his photo studio, where he mostly does wedding shoots. He seems to take pleasure in capturing the moment of true love for his clients. While he is at it, he stumbles upon a mysterious project on a client's laptop which piques his interest. He sees the project as an opportunity to explore other aspects of his photography besides weddings and offers to take it on.

The project involves taking photos of anonymous strangers from the internet, who’ve supposedly contacted the client’s agency, which promotes the concept of anonymity and intimacy with strangers. The photography involves paying strangers to perform erotic activities with the photographers or their significant others/lovers, purely to capture those moments of the experience.

As Theo delves deeper into his passion project, he begins to see the world in a different light. He becomes more and more obsessed with capturing the perfect shot of his anonymous model, an Israeli woman named Subgirl (Meital Dohan). The more Theos works on the project, the more he becomes pulled into a web of desire and obsession, leading him down a dark and dangerous path.

The movie is both an ambitious and authentic look at the complexities of modern relationships, fidelity, and love. It's an examination of the secrets that lovers keep and the depths of self-delusion that they can fall into. The storyline strikes a careful balance between the exploration of subversive sex and artistic expression.

Chris Messina's portrayal of Theo is authentic, depicting him as a man who is struggling with his desires while being torn apart by his moral compass. He finds himself in a dangerously sensual world, which ultimately leaves him questioning everything that he once held dear. Rashida Jones, playing the role of Nat, Theo’s fiancée, is subtle and controlled, but her presence is always felt, even when she's not onscreen. Her perfect representation of the calm exterior and emotional turmoil within makes it a perfect foil to Theo's passionate nature.

The plot is complex and jagged, navigating a web of intrigue, sexuality, and self-discovery. It is an exploration of human nature and our desire for connection, love, and a sense of self. The movie doesn't shy away from depicting gritty and intense sexual scenes, which is not exploitative but feels authentic to the plot.

The cinematography of Monogamy is excellent, with stunning shots of New York City giving the movie a beautiful and raw documentary-style feel. The black and white sequences are also significant and invoke a deeper sense of nostalgia and melancholy in the atmosphere. The film's score is haunting and memorable, adding to the overall mood of despair and confusion.

In conclusion, Monogamy is a gorgeous, haunting film that captures the changing landscape of love and relationships in a modern world. It's a beautiful, raw, and emotional journey that takes you through the dark twists and turns that life can throw at us when we least expect it. If you're a fan of challenging, cutting-edge cinema that makes you think and feel, Monogamy is a must-see movie.

Monogamy is a 2010 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.0 and a MetaScore of 47.