Movie Quick Thoughts: Duplicity
A couple of weeks back I got the chance to see Duplicity but I wasn't able to find any time to write up a review, eventually I just got stuck doing other things. Now with a little bit of free time, I figured I'd write up some quick thoughts on Duplicity. The short version - Duplicity is a fun, amusing and clever story with a great cast, a movie that I'd like to recommend to all of you reading this post.
"Closer co-stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen reunite for Oscar-nominated director Tony Gilroy's drama tracing the illicit love affair between two spies-turned-corporate operatives. The Cold War has thawed, and for CIA agents seeking to make an easy mint, the real money is in multinational corporations. CIA officer Claire Stenwick (Roberts) and Ray Koval (Owen) are both racing to secure the formula for a product that will bring untold wealth to the company that lands the patent first as the stakes begin to rise, and their passions start to flare. Meanwhile, their mutual employers, industry giant Howerd Tully (Tom Wilkinson) and trailblazing CEO Dick Garsil (Paul Giamatti) start resorting to some seriously underhanded tactics in hope of gaining an advantage over the competition. Loners by definition of their own careers, Claire and Ray engage in a series of schemes and double-crosses while contending with the fact that their mutual attraction could ultimately jeopardize their entire missions." [Fandango]
Every movie has an opening titles sequence, you all know that. Most of the time the titles are simply filming credits of actors and crew with the films theme playing. Occasionally, you'll get a title sequence that is more visual. Recently in the Warner Bros film Watchmen we were given more, a very entertaining title sequence and those of us who've seen it know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen it, then you'll have to wait until it hits DVD because I don't want to spoil it. The number of films I've seen is uncountable but without a doubt, Duplicity has one of the greatest opening title sequence I've ever seen. In it you'll be able to see legendary actors Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti have a fist fight, in the rain, at an airport, ... all in slow motion! It is one of the funniest things I've see all year so far and is with out a doubt a fantastic way to open this film.
Tony Gilroy is proving himself a good director with Michael Clayton and now this, Duplicity. I don't doubt a strong directing career ahead of him. He's already had a good career as a writer, writing films like The Devil's Advocate, The Jason Bourne trilogy (a trilogy I love), Michael Clayton and State of Play, a movie I have yet to see. Gilroy takes movies like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the Ocean 11 films, combines them and gives us this movie - a clever, witty, sometimes suspenseful, amusing and a overall fun film.
In Duplicity you'll love the chemistry between characters, you'll love the story even though some of the dialog is clunky, and you'll love the twists and turns. I love it when the twists offered in movies can't be seen from a mile away. Once you think you have this movie figured out, Tony Gilroy will throw it in your face and I guarantee you, you'll love it.
I'm sure Duplicity is still in theaters, but at this point you'll probably be better off waiting until it hits DVD which I don't doubt will be in another couple of months. This is definitely something you should rent and check out because you'll have fun with it. Ultimately, however, although it's a really enjoyable movie it's also sort of forgettable, meaning you won't be thinking about it weeks after the fact but you will watch it every time it's on a movie channel on television.
If anyone else saw Duplicity, chime in and let us know what you thought.
-Phil
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