“Duplicity” combines a clever script by Tony Gilroy, who also directs, the acting of charismatic stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, and the suspense inherent in a caper film. The complexities of the script may please the mind, but the conclusion, unfortunately, doesn’t please the heart. Gilroy chooses to tell his story not in a straight line, but with many flashbacks. And it is through these flashbacks that we follow the developing romance between former CIA operative Claire Stenwick (Roberts) and former MI-6 agent Ray Koval (Owen), which is filled with double-crosses. It’s apparent that Claire and Ray love each other, but can they trust each other? Ray is an industrial espionage expert working for Equikrom and Claire is a director of security for Equikrom’s rival, Burkett & Randle. However, we soon learn that she is an Equikrom mole and her new ‘handler’ is Ray. Of course, all is not as it seems.
Clive Owen is attractive and his performance believable; Julia Roberts looks lovely and does her work skillfully. Clearly, these roles provide no challenge for capable actors, but the script does require that they deliver convincing repartee. And an added bonus is the performances of Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson as the rival CEOs of competing skin care companies. In order for “Duplicity” to be successful, it must entertain us and it does so most of its two hour running time. Gilroy’s script is smart even as the climax disappoints. 3/21/09
1 comment:
Duplicity is a fun little romantic drama full of twists and turns but I don't see much of a "spark" between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. The producers of this film, I'm sure, were looking for chemistry here that just didn't happen for me. I like both actors, just not tegether. They had a potential "blockbuster" with this film that just came up a little short.
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