'Duplicity' Movie Review

If you feel the need to grab a pen and paper and chart out what's happening onscreen while watching Duplicity, you're not alone. This is a film that demands you pay attention – forget the bathroom, soda and popcorn breaks – for its entirety. Duplicity, the latest adult drama from Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), is a crazy spy vs spy tale of intrigue and corporate espionage that works well due mostly to the chemistry of its two leads – Clive Owen and Julia Roberts.

Duplicity plays a bait and switch game with its viewers, pushing one plot twist after another at the audience. First it's the story of rival agents, then it's a sophisticated romantic comedy, and finally it flips the story on its head in an attempt to pull off a real ah-ha moment. Which, if you play along and don't analyze or spend time poking holes in the logic, is kind of a fun little twist. But if you're unwilling to give it the benefit of the doubt, then you'll feel duped by Duplicity. The film's definitely one which will divide audiences. Either you go along with the playfulness of the plot or you won't like the film.

The Story

Paul Giamatti plays Dick Garsik, the head honcho of a company that churns out all sorts of cosmetics and hair products and such. Tom Wilkinson is Howard Tully, the bigwig of a rival company. Since both companies serve the same market, one beating the other to the punch on a new product can mean the difference between a profitable year and a negative one. As the war between the two companies heats up, former MI6 agent Ray Koval (Owen) takes a job at Garsik's company. Meanwhile ex-CIA officer Claire Stenwick (Roberts) has already been working with Tully to make sure his company's secrets don't fall into enemy hands.

Backing up a bit, we find out early on that Ray and Claire have a history. He picked her up at a party; she got the upper-hand after a night in bed, drugged him, stole a secret document and left him without saying good-bye. Ray's had it out for Claire ever since. But things are not as they seem. Ray and Claire are both looking to cash in on the rivalry between the multinational corporations, which leads to much double-dealing, double-crossing, and some juicy romantic encounters.

The Cast

In Closer, Clive Owen and Julia Roberts played a married couple with major relationship issues. That film, directed by Mike Nichols, had Owen and Roberts playing angry and suspicious. This film lets the chemistry between Owen and Roberts shine through. Given some real saucy dialogue and a chance to partake in some old school pillow talk, Owen and Roberts are entertaining and engaging.

In supporting roles, Giamatti and Wilkinson make for believable ruthless corporate heads who'll stop at nothing to get the drop on their primary competitors. Also helping to sell this tale of rival spies at rival companies are Lisa Roberts Gillan, Dan Daily, Oleg Stefan, Denis O'Hare, Tom McCarthy, and Carrie Preston. Preston (True Blood) steals a scene right from under Julia Roberts in one of the film's funnier moments.

The Bottom Line

The setting could have been banking (but Owen just did that in The International) or any other milieu in which major corporations play high-stakes games of one-upmanship. The fact Duplicity is set in the world of cosmetics only serves to make the set-up that much funnier.

Duplicity is fast-paced, a little confusing, but ultimately a decent new entry in the lengthy list of con-man films.

GRADE: B

Duplicity was directed by Tony Gilroy and is rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content.

Theatrical Release Date: March 20, 2009