">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Review: Roberts and Owen crackle in `Duplicity'
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Review: Roberts and Owen crackle in `Duplicity'
By CHRISTY LEMIRE,AP Movie Critic AP - Wednesday, March 18
Tony Gilroy penetrated the world of corporate corruption with smarts, suspense and searing insight in his 2007 directing debut, "Michael Clayton."
ADVERTISEMENT
He revisits that territory with "Duplicity," only he does it with plenty of sexual tension to go along with his usual crackling dialogue and complex plotting. The storytelling here is more dense, but the tone has a sly, sexy playfulness about it that significantly lightens things up.
Julia Roberts and Clive Owen may not immediately seem like the likeliest screen pair for a romantic comedy, especially following the devastating moments they shared in "Closer." But here they enjoy a delightful chemistry as former spies and on-again, off-again lovers who scheme to steal tens of millions of dollars from the dueling corporate behemoths that employ them. Roberts looks great in her return to leading-lady status after a few years off _ strong, curvy, formidable _ and Owen drops the steamy glower he's adopted of late and almost seems to have a twinkle in his eye this time around.
Writer-director Gilroy jumps all over in time and location with these two _ the globe-trotting and high-tech tactics reminiscent of the "Bourne" movies he scripted _ as he follows the constantly evolving relationship between Roberts' ex-CIA officer Claire Stenwick and Owen's former MI6 agent Ray Koval.
They've figured out a way to rob the rival pharmaceutical companies for whom they serve as undercover operatives in Manhattan; apparently, paranoia is rampant among the people who are supposed to make you feel better about yourself through conditioner and toothpaste. Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti, as the egomaniac titans of industry on either side of this Park Avenue war, bring substance to what could have been a couple of cartoony roles, and the healthy balance of A-list stars and veteran character actors is part of what makes "Duplicity" so appealing.
But because Claire and Ray are so paranoid themselves, as their careers have required them to be, they never know whether they can trust each other, something Gilroy shows us in flashbacks over the past five years in locales including Dubai, Rome and Miami. (Robert Elswit, an Oscar winner for "There Will Be Blood," provides the gorgeously glossy cinematography.)
When they first meet at a U.S. Embassy party, he seduces her, she slips something in his drink, then ransacks his hotel room and takes off with secret information. Ray has been figuring out ever since then how to confront Claire should their paths cross again _ which they do, repeatedly _ and the way his tone changes each time he delivers his schpiel is one of many clever running gags.
The threat of a double-cross keeps them both on their toes and infuses their affair with a buzzing and frequently hilarious tension. That's precisely why it seems so needless when Gilroy eventually gives in and spells things out for us. The guessing game was too addictive _ for them and for us _ and it didn't have to end.
Until then, though, the myriad twists and turns will probably make your head spin _ if you can follow them all, that is _ and you won't see the last one coming. But if you do, hey, bravo to you for being so crafty yourself.
"Duplicity," a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content. Running time: 118 minutes. Three stars out of four.
___
Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions:
G _ General audiences. All ages admitted.
PG _ Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
PG-13 _ Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
R _ Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
NC-17 _ No one under 17 admitted.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
'Slumdog Millionaire' to hit Chinese screensAP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
"Transformers 3" director corrects release dateReuters - 1 hour 45 minutes ago
Richardson's family gathers near injured actressAP - Wednesday, March 18
Anoop Desai goes country, wows Cowell and companyAP - Wednesday, March 18
DeGeneres to play Mother Nature in comedyReuters - Wednesday, March 18
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
AIG storm rages in Washington
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance
Miniature carnivore dinosaurs roamed North America
Injured actress Richardson flown to US: hospital
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Wednesday, 18 March 2009 Israel to keep pressure on Gaza after talks stall
| International
|
Verdict in Austria incest trial expected Thursday
| International
|
Bashir to be held responsible for aid ouster: U.S.
| International
|
Nations line up to slam big powers' UN veto rights
| International
|
U.S. says Iran increasing activity in Latin America
| International
|
Apple fills some gaps with new iPhone features
| Technology
|
Google to roll out free tool to help save energy
| Technology
|
U.N. advises governments how to stop Internet drug peddling
| Technology
|
Expedia shares gain on Google takeover talk
| Technology
|
Discovery sues Amazon's Kindle
| Technology
|
Bob Dylan's toilet smell blows in the wind
| Entertainment
|
Andy Warhol's Wide World comes to Paris
| Entertainment
|
Opposition leader takes power in Madagascar
| International
|
Israeli PM says Hamas price for soldier too high
S.Korea warns of action if North blocks border again
| International
|
Iraq govt calls for death sentences to be ratified
U.N. official says U.S. demonizes Iranian leader
| International
|
Olmert: Israel rejects Hamas demands for soldier
Case packed with TNT found in Tibet capital: report
| International
|
AIG storm rages in Washington
Iraq Qaeda group slams Obama withdrawal as ploy
Japan to ready defense against North Korea rocket: Kyodo
| International
|
Injured actress Richardson flown to US: hospital
Israel-Hamas prisoner swap talks sink
Pope in Africa reaffirms no condoms against AIDS
| International
|
Act now on floods, drought, says forum
Israel says Gaza blockade goes on until soldier freed
Chavez readying artillery for Americas summit
| International
|
Iran: Leading candidate vows Islamic-based reform
Colombian FARC rebels free Swedish kidnap victim
| International
|
Blind Iraqi girl struggles despite offers of help
U.S. increases pressure on Sudan after expulsions
| International
|
Theory combats accepted wisdom on Dead Sea Scrolls
Iraq urges execution of Saddam-era officials
Act now on floods, drought, says forum
Apple unveils App options in iPhone software peek
| Technology
|
Top UN official says US demonizing Iran leader
Google updates Chrome Web browser to boost speeds
| Technology
|
Obama to name Sudan special envoy: official
Sun Micro takes on Amazon in cloud computing
| Technology
|
Seattle Post-Intelligencer dies, reborn online
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 591
Group asks U.S. FTC to probe Google privacy safety
Chavez preparing 'artillery' for Americas summit
Discovery sues Amazon's Kindle
Beshir 'responsible' for deaths in Darfur: Clinton
New iPhone software has copy-paste, no Flash
Group asks U.S. FTC to probe Google privacy safety
| Technology
|
Apple unveils App options in iPhone software peek
St. Patrick's revelers in US fete all things Irish
Google News, EPA members in partnership agreement
Colombian rebels free Swedish hostage: official
Correction: Liberians-Waiting Game
U.N. advises governments how to stop Internet drug peddling
Moscow court refuses to stop Khodorkovsky trial
Study cautions against relying on Arab kingdom
McCain gives "Twitterview" to ABC
Google to roll out free tool to help save energy
Man held in China for posting conflict rumours: report
Nokia to cut another 1,700 jobs worldwide
Indonesia cleric detained for marrying 12-year-old
First sighting of humpback whale in Hong Kong
Lion shot after escaping Australian zoo enclosure
Natasha Richardson seriously hurt in ski fall
| Entertainment
|
SKorea to beef up security at overseas missions
Stacy Keach hospitalized
| Entertainment
|
8 foreign skiers rescued from Japanese slope
Official's pro-China claim causes uproar in Taiwan
Transformers 3 director corrects release date
| Entertainment
|
Chinese Premier Wen to meet NKorean premier
Stacy Keach hospitalized
DeGeneres to play Mother Nature in comedy
| Entertainment
|
US warns of drink-spiking in Tokyo bars
'Sopranos' creator David Chase returning to HBO
NKorea refuses US food amid missile standoff
Man held at Beijing airport with 87kg of marijuana
Huiyuan shares halted amid doubts about Coke deal
South Korea unemployment rises to 3.9 pct: govt
Richardson's family gathers near injured actress
China forex reserves drop 30 bln dlrs
Anoop Desai goes country, wows Cowell and company
SKorea expected to initial EU trade pact in May
DeGeneres to play Mother Nature in comedy
China Mobile profit expected to grow strongly
Natasha Richardson seriously hurt in ski fall
Coca-Cola may abandon China juice acquisition: FT
Venezuela rethinks cheap gasoline
Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Stacy Keach hospitalized
Japan holds rates steady, boosts bond purchases
'Schooling Giacomo' teaches life-affirming lessons
S.Korea KAMCO to buy $876 mln savings banks debt
Review: Roberts and Owen crackle in `Duplicity'
SKorea says it will respond if North blocks border
LA dance company gets $20 million gift
Broadway theaters to dim lights for Ron Silver
NATO says 4,000 extra troops needed for Afghan poll
| International
|
NATO recommits troops for Afghan polls
Lebanese president rules out direct Israel talks
| International
|
Russia to decide on air defence for Iran: report
Austria's Fritzl admits murder and enslavement
| International
|
Pakistan dismisses report US may widen covert war
CORRECTED: Vatican defends pope condoms stand, criticism mounts
| International
|
British unemployment hits 12-year high
Israeli army uses PIs to spy on suspect dodgers
Man blows himself up in failed Yemen attack: source
| International
|
Green tea, mushrooms cut breast cancer risk: study
Iran's reformist challenger to Ahmadinejad
Fritzl changes plea to guilty to all charges
Sri Lanka war rages, more than 640 make boat escape
| International
|
Kabul bomb wounds three, 33 rebels killed
Kuwait to name crown prince as premier: reports
| International
|
Sudan's Bashir rallies Arab tribesmen in Darfur
| International
|
IBM in talks to buy Sun Microsystems
| Technology
|
Obama may visit Russia in July: report
In spite of hunger, NKorea refuses US food aid
Marvel, startup ink online gaming deal
Marvel, startup ink online gaming deal
| Technology
|
IBM in talks to buy Sun Micro: report
Maxis commits $10 billion to India mobile unit
| Technology
|
Sun Micro takes on Amazon in cloud computing
Ontario to help emerging tech firms raise capital
| Technology
|
Seoul rules out closing economic zone in North
Afghan leader warns against international meddling
China PM talks nuclear with NKorea premier
China cans Coca-Cola bid for juice-maker
Moderate quake hits off Indonesia: officials
Thai PM vows to slow drug trade within 6 months
Pakistan records c/a surplus of $146 mln in Feb
Japan steps up fight against economic downturn
Eni to double Pakistan output in 5-6 years
US urges citizens to avoid Tokyo nightlife area
Taiwan to conduct study on capital gains tax
Four bombs found in Thai govt stronghold: police
Thailand's exports slide for fourth month
Japan court rules nuke plant is quake-proof
China shares rise on commodity gains
Made-to-order magazine lets readers choose
40,000 Philippine seamen could lose jobs: official
Author Pat Conroy entering SC Hall of Fame
Asia, Europe markets edge higher after US rally
First celebrity cast off of `Dancing'
Pakistan's NBP says '08 net profit falls 18.8 pct
Mystery shrouds Patagonia sinking of gold laden ship
Sri Lankan economic growth cools in 4th quarter
Fredo Viola: from internet buzz to music stores
WRAPUP 2-S.Korea sheds most jobs in 5 yrs as slump deepens
Humble Dutch clog stands the test of time
'Slumdog Millionaire' to hit Chinese screens
"Transformers 3" director corrects release date
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights