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| Movie Review: Duplicity Alternate Title: Cunning Cons
Story: I like a good con. The
Sting is one of my favorite all time movies. This latest con job
was written and directed by Tony Gilroy and to put
it mildly, this is no Sting. The plot is really quite simple but the screenplay
is not. Two Intelligence agents, one from the CIA and one from MI-6
met in Dubai five years ago, had a one night fling where she drugged
him and pilfered his secret documents. Fast forward five years and they
meet again, this time in Grand Central Station, NYC. I won't give more of the plot away but I will
say that the simple story line gets uber-complicated by flashbacks that
change the scenario every 15 minutes. Just when you think you are following
everything, another flashback happens and gaping plot holes open. The good news is that watching Clive Owen for
two hours never hurt anyone. Pretty people and pretty locations make
for a decent two hour escape. However, if you are looking for a spy
thriller in the manner of the Bourne films, look elsewhere. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhUp1JRLbhk Acting: Julia Roberts comes out of semi-retirement
to play Claire Stenwick, former CIA agent. I have never been a big fan
of Ms Roberts (so sue me) and she does nothing especially interesting
in this film either. Clive Owen as former MI-6 agent,
Ray Koval, brings on the charm and style that we are used to seeing.
Tom Wilkinson overacts as one of the corporate heads
as does Paul Giamatti. Denis O’Hare,
Kathleen Chalfant, Tom McCarthy, Carrie Preston and
Rick Worthy all perform more than adequately in their supporting
roles.
Trivia: Paul Giamatti is the son of A. Bartlett Giamatti,
late president of Yale University, major league baseball commissioner
and nemesis of Pete Rose. He is a Boston Red Sox fan.
Predilection: I like movies about cons and I like
Clive Owen.
Critters: None
Sex Spectrum: There are many bedroom scenes but actual
'sex' is not shown.
Opening Titles: An opening sequence that introduces
us to the characters. All the actual titles are at the end.
Visual Art: There Will Be Blood's director
of photography, Robert Elswit, shows his talent again.
Theater Audience: About 30 other people.
Weather: The weather was fine in Rome, NYC, Dubai
and Cleveland. Cleveland? Yes, Cleveland.
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I began to drift after the fourth flashback.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. For some
of screen writer Michael Gilroy's other screenplays you can rent: Michael
Clayton, The Bourne Ultimatum,The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Identity
as well as Proof of Life, The Devil's Advocate and Dolores Claiborne
.
Length: Five minutes over the two hour rule. The film
actually seemed longer.
LOBO HOWLS: 6 |