"An über-clever, bordering on confusing plot that will either thrill or agitate you immensely. There is no middle ground."

On-screen eye candy in sexy Julia Roberts and Clive Owen aside, this is one of those flicks with an über-clever, bordering on confusing plot that will either thrill or agitate you immensely. There is no middle ground. As one fellow film critic who napped half-way through, and woke up when things started to get interesting, remarked at the end: “That was a great film”! Yes, if you do, indeed, have a snooze mid-way through to avoid the often annoying to-and-fro-ing through flashbacks of the couple’s dysfunctional and fragile personal relationship, and begin at the point when things begin to get interesting and unravel in industrial espionage terms, then it’s a bloomin’ fantastic film!

In its defence, Duplicity is stylishly filmed in an almost Ocean’s Eleven technique. It establishes its ’slickness’ at the very beginning with an intriguing and beautifully-shot slow-mo opener of irate corporate ‘giants’ Tully (Tom Wilkinson) and Garsik (Paul Giamatti) going for each other’s throat in an amusing tussle on a private airstrip in the rain. But you can be forgiven for asking throughout the film; just what the hell is going on? That’s the whole point. The problem lies in whether you will wait until the end to find out? Still, there is always the sizzling on-screen relationship between Roberts and Owen to pull you back into focus whilst you wait.

It is reported that Roberts refused to do more nudity in the film, but fans still hung up on her from way back in her Pretty Woman days will not be disappointed, as there is plenty of flesh on display in a tantalising and titillating fashion as ex-CIA agent (Roberts) and former MI6 operative (Owen) try to out-smart each other, whilst fighting the irresistible attraction they so obviously feel. Owen plays moody exceptionally well once more, which is fast becoming one of his many appealing trademarks. The film also, cleverly, keeps you guessing just who to believe - a problem both the lead characters have when they finally accept their feelings for each other. But can they really trust each other?

Wilkinson and Giamatti are marvellous as the powerful, competing pharmaceuticals industry heads who provide much of the dark comedy, whilst Roberts and Owen provide the glamour. Therefore, each character has his or her place and purpose, without any particular one ego trying to monopolise screen time. Naturally, though, Roberts IS the ‘cash cow’, groomed to perfection as Claire Stenwick.

Without giving the industrial espionage game away, as to exactly what both sides are trying to ‘protect’ or ’steal’, the latter-half of the film is quite exhilarating as everything begins to unravel and the heartbeat races. Writer-director Tony Gilroy, the alleged architect of the Bourne franchise screenplays, shows his thriller pedigree and expertise by taking control of the situation and keeping the viewer gripped in the latter part of the story, even if he may loose his audience at moments beforehand. There is a rather deflating ending for our double, triple-crossing spies that may, or may not be setting up for a sequel - watch this space.

If complicating and teasing plots are your thing, then Duplicity is right up your street. If not, you may be able to salvage some of the ticket money spent on enjoying the delicious Roberts (she’s still got it) and hunky and suave Owen (yet to loose it) in one of the most complicated relationships played out on the big screen in recent cinematic years yet!

Synopsis

CIA officer Claire Stenwick (Roberts) and MI6 agent Ray Koval (Owen) have left the world of government intelligence to cash in on the highly profitable cold war raging between two rival multinational corporations. Their mission? Secure the formula for a product that will bring a fortune to the company that patents it first.

For their employers-industry titan Howard Tully (Tom Wilkinson) and buccaneer CEO Dick Garsik (Paul Giamatti) - nothing is out of bounds. But as the stakes rise, the mystery deepens and the tactics get dirtier, the trickiest secret for Claire and Ray is their growing attraction. And as they each try to stay one double-cross ahead, two career loners find their schemes endangered by the only thing they can’t cheat their way out of: love.

Film Facts

Official site: http://www.duplicitymovie.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 20th March 2009

Director: Tony Gilroy

Writer: Tony Gilroy

Cast: Julia Roberts (’Claire Stenwick’), Clive Owen (’Ray Koval’), Tom Wilkinson (’Howard Tully’), Paul Giamatti (’Richard Garsik’), Rick Worthy (’Dale Raimes’), Wayne Duvall (‘Ned Guston’), Christopher Denham (’Ronny Partiz’), Eliezer Meyer (’Rabbi Elli’), Kathleen Chalfant (’Pam Frailes’)

Distributor: Universal Pictures International UK

Certificate: 12A

Run-time: 124 mins

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