J: Yippee, Yahoo and Hallelujah! FINALLY, a movie I can write about that is more than what I was expecting or hoping for. Please, if you have been as disappointed with the recent crop of films as I have been stop reading this, drop whatever you are doing and RUN don’t walk to see Duplicity!
Did I use enough Hollywood clichés? Well, don’t let that put you off because clichés go out the revolving door in this movie. Director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) returns to the rich mine(field) of corporate shenanigans for his latest turn. This time rival pharmaceutical companies, headed by dueling CEOs Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti, engage in the kind of corporate spy tactics worthy of any James Bond film and the spies in this yarn are, in fact, ex-MI-1 and CIA, played deliciously by Clive Owen (he of the lovely blue eyes) and Julia Roberts (she of the oddly indeterminate lips). To say these two have a complicated relationship would probably be the Guinness World Record of understatements. That relationship is fleshed out (love a good pun!) throughout the film, beginning with their meeting at a soiree at the US Embassy in Dubai five years prior to the beginning of the story, with a series of flashbacks. Now, I’m not normally a big fan of flashbacks particularly when they are as numerous as the ones in this movie, but these have been so well done that it’s pretty hard to lose the thread of action. And there are enough twists in this movie to make a bag of Rolled Gold pretzels jealous! You truly never know who is “zooming” who! Mr. Gilroy also delivers a surprise ending that is satisfying but a touch bittersweet. But, Glory Days, it was a surprise.
There are wonderful tech gadgets but they take a backseat to the story and character development. The opening scene is a very nifty slow motion Battle of the Titans and that’s about all I’m going to say because I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the fun of this film for anyone.
Thank You, Mr. Gilroy, for delivering one of my favorite movies of 2009 and for restoring my faith in the creativity of the movie business.
Did I use enough Hollywood clichés? Well, don’t let that put you off because clichés go out the revolving door in this movie. Director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) returns to the rich mine(field) of corporate shenanigans for his latest turn. This time rival pharmaceutical companies, headed by dueling CEOs Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti, engage in the kind of corporate spy tactics worthy of any James Bond film and the spies in this yarn are, in fact, ex-MI-1 and CIA, played deliciously by Clive Owen (he of the lovely blue eyes) and Julia Roberts (she of the oddly indeterminate lips). To say these two have a complicated relationship would probably be the Guinness World Record of understatements. That relationship is fleshed out (love a good pun!) throughout the film, beginning with their meeting at a soiree at the US Embassy in Dubai five years prior to the beginning of the story, with a series of flashbacks. Now, I’m not normally a big fan of flashbacks particularly when they are as numerous as the ones in this movie, but these have been so well done that it’s pretty hard to lose the thread of action. And there are enough twists in this movie to make a bag of Rolled Gold pretzels jealous! You truly never know who is “zooming” who! Mr. Gilroy also delivers a surprise ending that is satisfying but a touch bittersweet. But, Glory Days, it was a surprise.
There are wonderful tech gadgets but they take a backseat to the story and character development. The opening scene is a very nifty slow motion Battle of the Titans and that’s about all I’m going to say because I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the fun of this film for anyone.
Thank You, Mr. Gilroy, for delivering one of my favorite movies of 2009 and for restoring my faith in the creativity of the movie business.
K: My PIC hasn't seen many of the recent Oscar nominated movies as I have, so I must disagree with her opening statements about stinky movies. However, I do agree that this movie was better than anticipated and I highly recommend it. It kept you on the edge of your seat while you were constantly reassessing everyone's motives, but it was light enough to allow the audience to get swept away in the fun adventure offered by Clive the sexy hunk and Julia the weird-looking. If you don't make it to theater, definitely add this to your rental list.
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