"Duplicity" Review

I reviewed "Duplicity" before I started the blog, but I still want to share my review. For me, "Duplicity" is the number two film of the year thus far. And it worked just as well, if not better, on a second viewing. Unfortunately, the film tanked at the box office and not many people got a chance to see it. It's out on DVD now and is well-worth your time. I had to slightly alter my review due to both changes in opinion and stylistic choices I made in my review at the time. It's funny. I wrote this review six months ago, and I thought it was my best. And after reading it over, I am appalled by some of my stylistic decisions. Anyway, here's my original review of "Duplicity" (with a few slight alterations).


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About midway through Tony Gilroy’s spy thriller, “Duplicity,” corporate spy Claire Stenwick says to Ray Koval, her lover and rival, “Admit it, you don’t trust me either.” This clever quip underlines the film’s main topic, trust – particularly in relationships. And directors-screenwriter Gilroy successfully conveys this idea in a fun, stylish, clever thriller.

In Duplicity , Stenwick (Julia Roberts) and Koval (Clive Owen), two ex-government intelligence agents, team up to take down two pharmaceutical companies vying for a revolutionary new product. With Stenwick on one side and Koval on the other, the plan seems flawless, but much double-crossing and finger-pointing ensues as the con becomes more involved and the stakes higher.

While the film’s plot is complex and twisty, one never gets frustrated because the film does not take itself too seriously. And when the answers do come, they are clever and add to the film’s atmosphere. Much credit should go to Gilroy, who balances the complexity and the light humor of the film almost flawlessly. One scene near the film’s ending upsets this balance, but Gilroy is able to compensate for this small error with a pitch-perfect final scene.

Part of what makes the film so fun is the undeniable chemistry between Roberts and Owens. While Owens can be a tad dull at times, he is almost always charming. And Julia Roberts proves she still has the chops to carry a movie. She shines in both her comedic and dramatic scenes. Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson also shine with delightful performances as the two sleaze bags in charge of the rival corporations. The opening credit sequence featuring the two rivals attacking each other in slow-motion is a joy to watch and adds even more flair to an already stylish film.

One sticking point that many will have with the film is that it is too talky. While the film does feel verbose, it is still energized and engaging. One sequence – with almost no violence – in which one corporation is attempting to steal the other’s secret, is more suspenseful than most modern action movies. While many filmmakers think that suspense is created by constant action, the minds behind “ Duplicity” realize that suspense comes from the stakes of the characters, rather than how many bullets are being fired at them. Accenting the film’s suspenseful, twisty plot is James Newton Howard’s upbeat, jazzy score. Also of note is Robert Elswit’s cinematography which displays the beauty of the film’s various locales. All of these elements combine to make a fun, fluid, and truthful film experience.

A-