DUPLICITY
Agent MI-6 Ray Coval (Clive Owen) falls in love with Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts) in a barbeque party in account to the celebration of American independent day in Dubai. He just realized that Claire is an agent of CIA after knowing that she absconds with the documents and willingly slept with him even just a night. Years later, those two spies get another meeting when Ray is completing his duties given by an enormous company, Equikrom, while Claire works for the Equikrom’s competitor, Burket & Randle, which will be ready for releasing the new product keenly wanted by Equikrom. As the boss of Ray, Richard Garsik asks him to find out its formula. Both companies compete seizing the ownership of the new product.
Just the same as I LOVE TROUBLE, Ray and Claire performs their own style of quarreling. Indeed, Julia Roberts, who played more less the same character last 15 years, is still able performing this character well. After having a long time absence, Roberts plays a role as a smart, sexy, and cunning character. In the age of 41, she’s still comfortably acting and the camera is still friendly with her. Unlike Owen who performs his arrogant character wonderfully and cannot be refused by women, Roberts here conducts her role freely.
It’s indeed a well-arranged-duration movie with no difficult dialogues. It presents its romantic part which is different from a spy movie like MICHAEL CLAYTON and THE BOURNE Trilogy with their actions and suspensions sides. More interestingly, Thomas McCarthy, Denis O’Hara and Kathleen Chalfant have been successfully brought this movie not only focused by those who are in love. Howard Tully (Tom Wilkinson) and Richard Garsik (Giamatti) have also incredibly success competing for inviting laugh. Comedy, action, and its romance are presented in balance.
Gilroy, its movie director, presents his original and perfect movie script which is as original as Michael Clayton script. Moreover, its viewers shall feel its professional teamwork showing their confidence, attractiveness, and convenience. Both Roberts and Owen are able to generate simple action to be attractive action that can be enjoyed in each minute. The disturbing thing is that it shows too many scenes of flash back. Instead of keeping its viewers’ curiosity which should be the important part of such this genre, Gilroy in fact shows the technique of how the movie was made. Yet, this movie is also supported by fantastic back sound which comes together with the appearances of the actions. Besides, it is also artistically arranged that the viewers don’t need to doubt for it. Last but not least, beside there are many unpredictable twists which bring this movie to the position of above standard, this second reunion of Julia Roberts and Clive Owen after starring CLOSER is entertaining and awesome.
Characterization : Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Denis O’Hara, Kathleen Chalfant, Thomas McCarthy, Oleg Stefan, Carrie Preston
Movie director : Tony Gilroy
Movie Script : Tony Gilroy
Duration : 125 Minutes
Opening Weekend : $ 13,965,110
Distributor : Universal Pictures
