In “Duplicity”, Ray Koval (Clive Owen) and Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts) are both government spies. Claire is a CIA agent while Ray is an MI6 agent. They both meet while on assignment in Dubai. Ray tries to charm her with some pick up lines. Then the next thing we know. They end up sleeping together,but she steals his secret documents while he is passed out. After that evening , five years pass by before they see each other again. At this time, they are working for counterespionage departments of two successful, competing shampoo companies led by Howard Tully (Tom Wilkinson) and Richard Garsik (Paul Giamatti) . The two companies are both looking to get their hands on a secret formula that can cure baldness for good.

When Ray first sees Claire again, he’s looking to make a drop, but then realizes she’s the one to make it. She runs off. He catches up to her,and then all the scheming games begin again from here. It’s weird because they act out this odd scene where they meet up again after 5 years. She acts like she doesn’t know him,and he’s very sure he does. However, it is quite entertaining. The plot eventually ends up with them two scheming together to steal the formula that cures baldness, and sell it for $40 million , and spend the rest of their lives relaxing. So the plan appears to be in operation,but because one can’t trust the other. They play game after game with each other all the while in the back of their minds, still hope that the other one will hold up their end of the bargain.

This movie had so many complexities in it that honestly I got lost in the fumble of it all. I do know that at the end, Ray and Claire try and present what they think is the secret formula to Howard Tully’s company ,but come up shocked when it’s turns out to be just a lotion when tested by a group of scientists that Howard’s company hired to test it before paying out nearly $40 million in cash. Claire and Ray leave disappointed,but at the same time, take it in stride.

My Take : While the movie had it’s entertaining moments,it ran really slow for me in some parts, so slow in fact that I was snoring like a baby. I thought the on air chemistry between Clive Owen and Julia Roberts was excellent. The problem was that it had so many odd scenes that I didn’t follow,and kind of made me lose interest in the overall film. The story between Ray and Claire was funny and cool at first, but then it just got kind of old as they kept acting out the same scenes over an over again. For those people who can really get in tangled in a long drawn out complex plot,this is the movie for you.For those of you who like a plot that’s simple ,and to the point. Then you’re like me ,and probably will lose interest in this movie. I do however, give it points for it’s uniqueness.

Grade : C +

Movie : Duplicity
Release Date : March 20,2009
Studio : Universal Pictures
Cast : Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Rick Worthy

Tweet