DUPLICITY: REVIEW
It
doesn't take much to make the life of a spy look lavish. The travel, the expense
account, the role playing, and a sense of danger. All of this done with a keen
sense of fun and romance in 'Duplicity'.
With the recent James
Bond films taking the spy into a dark fold, 'Duplicity' travels in the other direction
- dashing and bright entertainment aiming to please. The film begins at the American
consulate in Dubai where a traditional 4 July barbeque is being held. Secret agent
Ray Koval (Clive Owen), enjoying the atmosphere, is flirting with the beautiful
Claire (Julia Roberts). Unfortunately for Kovac however, he doesn't pick up on
the fact that she's actually a C.I.A agent until it's too late. It's long after
she has taken a bunch of classified documents from his room and he has woken up
with the drugs that she used to knock him out still in his system.
Years
later, they are thrown together again in a most unlikely situation. Kovac takes
a private security job for a suspect corporate company that produce a range of
everyday chemical goods. On his rounds, he discovers Claire already there as a
deep undercover operative working for a rival firm. Her company is supposedly
on the brink of a sensational new item that will change the world according to
them.
The pair share many choice words in a teasing opposites
attract heat. Layers of deception only begin to be unveiled, but it only serves
as a reason to send the two on excursions to Rome, London and Zurich. Director
Tony Gilroy is worlds away from his previous film, the heavily dramatic 'Michael
Clayton'. He sets the right tone firmly from the start with flair.
The
star pairing is a knockout, having shared the screen before in the confronting
'Closer', they're obviously comfortable with each other and it shows. Together,
the silver screen favourites are oozing cool chemistry with something as simple
as a smirk or a blink of an eye. Clive Owen is on safe ground, his knack of likeable
aloof charm works well. Julia Roberts is slick, smart, and sassy, all the while
radiating an icy demeanour.
The plot is irrelevant for the
most part as all the fun comes from the banter and the witty dialogue. An amusing
slow motion cameo from character actors Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson fighting
is an unconventional opening to the picture, but sets the scene for what light-hearted
adventures lay ahead. Better than 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith', 'Duplicity' is one spy
game for the romantics.
Shane A. Bassett
