The Beauty of Deception

If you’re in the mood for a classic romantic comedy, then Duplicity, starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen is the movie to see. This is the first time that Oscar-nominated Tony Gilroy has reunited Roberts and Owen in a movie since Closer. Duplicity is fun-filled and light-hearted. Distrust, deception, dishonesty, blackmail, love, and corporate espionage are the main ingredients to this film. Gilroy, creator of Michael Clayton and The Bourne Ultimatum pulls this spy movie off very well. It opens with two very important corporate executives fighting outside an airport. This sets the tone for the corporate rat race that is so bad that one corporate tycoon buys a landfill just to look through another company’s garbage.  

The beautiful, aged to perfection, Julia Roberts plays the role of Claire Stenwick and the gorgeous dark haired Clive Owens plays the role of Ray Koval. These two spies fall in love after Ray has been duped out of secret information by Claire. Since they are both secret intelligence agents, they decide to partner up and go in business for themselves working as double agents. This get-rich scheme calls for extensive travel, luxurious hotels, and many secrets. All this time apart from each other, leaves room for them to continually question and doubt each others loyalty and confidence in their relationship.

Most of the movie centers around Stenwick and Claire chasing after a secret formula for hair growth, that is supposed to make millions for whoever launches it first. Unfortunately, in the end they are both double-crossed by an another double agent and the formula for success that they have worked so hard to steal , turns out to be just a recipe for skin scream.

Overall the movie is light and fun. If you are looking for something deep and symbolic then this is not the movie for you. But if you’re looking for a good flick to kill some time on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, then by all means see it today.

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