Upon first glance, Body of Lies might seem like just another one of your run-of-the-mill espionage thrillers. It is yet another movie about terrorists and the Middle East. Its overarching theme of lies and deception is one that is not all that unfamiliar within its genre. But what I found interesting about Body of Lies is that even though it is an action thriller and a tale of political intrigue, it is unique in that it is almost more so a portrait of relationships—the good, the bad, and pretty much everything in between—and what they mean in a world such as it depicts.

The story that unfolds in Body of Lies is that of CIA agent Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), a talented Middle East operative trying to bring down the terrorist leader Omar Sadiki (Ali Suliman). Throughout his various escapades, he is in almost constant contact with his Washington D.C.-based boss Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe). After a potential lead is discovered in Jordan, he collaborates with the powerful Hani (Mark Strong), the head of Jordanian intelligence. He recruits locals to aid in the execution of his operations. He meets with scared defectors from Sadiki's camp. And somewhere in between narrow escapes from rabid dogs, exploding buildings, and violent gunfire, he also meets the beautiful nurse Aisha (Golshifteh Farahani).

As its title indicates, much of the movie does deal in deception. Fabrications are offered to cover up truths that cannot be shared. Truths are turned into lies when they are not backed up. Dishonesty is used to create false realities and force action. At various points in the movie, almost every major character leads some kind of secretive operation behind the others' backs. The intriguing result is all the different relational dynamics those lies create.

Although they are the most "allied" characters in the movie, it is interesting to note that more lies occur between Roger and Ed than almost anyone else. On numerous occasions Ed repeatedly denies promises that Roger has made, often lying to Roger about it and, in doing so, essentially turning Roger's truths into lies. In Roger's work with local informants, it means his offer of asylum means nothing. When it comes to Roger's promise never to lie to Hani, Ed essentially sabotages their entire mission by lying. Ed's willingness to lie at almost the drop of a hat essentially places his own goals and mission above all else. As we see with Roger, as long as you remain helpful to Ed's mission, you will usually fare okay. The question is: What happens when you're not?

"Nobody likes the Middle East, there's nothing to like," says Ed of the very region he is pretty much failing to save. As Roger says, "Maybe that's your problem."

Also a key player in Roger's mission to capture Sadiki is Hani. Although other CIA operatives refuse to even consider cooperating with Hani, Roger sees him as an ally worth trusting. Initially, their shared information does seem to be potentially beneficial to all. But just as the CIA is not able to uphold Roger's promise to remain truthful, Hani reveals that although he refuses to cooperate with anyone who lies to him, he knows the manipulative power of lies and is not afraid to use them himself. In one instance, he lies to give a young man an edge up—in return for the man's obligated allegiance. In another, he uses lies to make another man (and his selfless intentions) his unwitting bait. In the end, all may turn out for the greater good. But at the core of Hani's lies is still the truth that, like Ed's, they essential serve to override the rights of others and obligate them only to Hani's own master plan. Then there's Roger himself. As an undercover CIA agent, Roger certainly lies throughout the movie. He lies to Aisha about his job. He lies to various people in order to carry out his operations. But unlike Hani and Ed, when his lies put at risk those they touch, he cares. Sure, he may not matter in the greater scheme of his mission, but Roger really does want to offer a terrorist defector asylum. When an unwitting front man for one of their schemes is threatened, Roger tries to save him. When locals recruited to assist in his mission fall in the line of duty, he refuses to write them off as necessary casualties without a second thought. And when Aisha becomes ensnared in one of the various missions to capture Sadiki, the only thing Roger cares about is saving her life—so much so that he is willing to give his.

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