Duplicity is an entertaining espionage/spy movie starring Clive Owens and Julia Roberts. The story of two former spies, working together on a long term plan to get rich at the expense of their corporate employers, Duplicity is full of twists and turns that keep the story moving up to the last minute.
The film tells the story of Ray Koval (Owen) a former MI6 agent, and Claire Stenwick (Roberts) a former CIA agent. At their first meeting Stenwick burns Koval, and that sets Koval on a mission to find her and get his revenge. Instead, years later, when their paths cross again, the two become allies. Move to present day, and the two have gone into deep cover working for competing companies. They plot and scheme and wait for the magic moment to arrive when they can steal the newest biggest idea and make off with a huge payday. All the while, neither one can decide who to trust, including eachother. As the big day moves closer, the tension rises, both operatives try to outwit their parent companies and eachother, and they play out their scheme. As expected, twists and turns abound, and the end should not be what you expect.
Duplicty is pretty good. Shot in an Ocean’s 11/12/13 kind of style, with lots of different locations, flashbacks, and cuts, and music cues, it’s a decent and engaging caper story. Roberts and Owens are both good, and the supporting cast is packed with greats. The plot does meander a bit, so you’ll have to pay attention to keep up with which flashback you’re watching, who’s playing who, and where you are in the timeline moving towards the big conclusion. This is a spy suspense movie, so it’s mostly about the lies and the twists. There’s not much violence, and although there’s some sex, there’s no nudity or even much explicit language.
Overall, Duplicity is probably the best pick in theaters right now, given what’s out there. It’s an entertaining movie with two engaging stars, and a decent espionage plot. Unless you’re looking for a big comedy, Duplicity is a good bet.
