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Duplicity: Stylish Spy Caper That's a Touch Too Calculating

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:00:55 -0700

It's hard to go wrong with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen in a movie together. The two starred in Closer as a couple in a toxic marriage. This time around they play two corporate spies who are intoxicated with each other. The sexy part comes from the way they look (Owen is tan, Roberts is back with that big ol' movie star smile) and the fact that the characters' day jobs make it hard for them to trust each other, despite the longing between them.

I was expecting Duplicity to be the kind of movie at which I could kick back and enjoy the chemistry between the two stars. You know, the kind of movie in which double-crossing is just a spy's way of flirting, and covert operation lingo is laced with innuendo. I'm sad to report that's not the movie I viewed at all. I'll tell you why if you read more.

I've been intrigued by the idea of Tony Gilroy (the man responsible for the 2007 drama Michael Clayton and writer of the suspenseful Bourne movies) delivering a fun and sexy spy romp starring two of the world's most gorgeous people. I knew to expect a grown-up movie that respects my intelligence, though I was skeptical about how much lightheartedness Gilroy could bring to the screen.

Turns out my skepticism was valid, as I found that the romantic and comedic elements take a backseat to a complex storyline about the corporate spy organizations within pharmaceutical companies. It's all made even more tiresome by a complicated timeline (there are a lot of flashbacks). Instead of asking you to invest in the sexy leads, Gilroy asks the audience to just hang in there through every twist and turn of nonsense in return for a big reveal that will piece it all together for us in the end. Well, by the time I saw the big reveal, I was just glad the movie was over rather than blown away by the cleverness.

On the plus side, the movie looks gorgeous and is delightfully sophisticated. The opening slow-motion sequence on a tarmac is funny and stylized in a way that reminded me of the Oceans 11 movies. Julia and Clive are delightful in Rome and there's a particular moment in which he kisses her neck that satisfied the kind of airy seductiveness I was looking for. There's also a great little sequence with the hilarious Carrie Preston (of True Blood) that is truly alive with comedic timing and wit. But unfortunately, the fun stuff is weighed down by the overly serious corporate saga unfolding. I think the drama is supposed to give us some food for thought on top of the fun, but it's actually just a drag, and it's utterly useless as a parable.

Then there's the matter of Julia Roberts. It's amazing to see this famous siren of the screen back in action. She's all curves with decolletage proudly on display. She's glamorously dressed in European weekend-wear and expensive-looking heels and trench coats. She's middle-aged and it's such a blessing to see a real woman sexily strut her stuff up there on the big screen. But Roberts' performance is distractingly uneven. One moment her eyes are alive with intelligence and wit and the next it looks as though no one is home. When she laughs it's electric, but then other times she just looks drained of energy. It's a strange "comeback" to be sure, but hey, maybe it's just a warm up.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Movie Preview: Clive and Julia in Duplicity

BuzzSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:30:40 -0800

The next project from Tony Gilroy, writer and director of Michael Clayton, is Duplicity, a spy thriller with a sexy couple at the heart of it. Clive Owen and Julia Roberts play two corporate spies with a romantic past who "hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses." Paul Giamatti and the awe-inspiring Tom Wilkinson also star.

I watched the trailer a few times because I'm easily distracted by how good-looking Clive Owen is, but in the end I think it looks like an intriguing enough film. There's not a lot of chemistry going on with the main duo, but the premise seems fun. And I think the song used in the second part of the trailer is that Bitter:Sweet tune used as the theme song for Lipstick Jungle (it drove me a little crazy at first trying to figure that out). Duplicity opens March 20. To check out the trailer, read more.

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Best Picture Breakdown: Michael Clayton

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:33:41 -0800

From now until the 2008 Oscars air on Sunday night, I'll be breaking down the five contenders for Best Picture, giving you the scoop on why each film could win and why it might not stand a chance. I started off with There Will Be Blood, and today I'm turning my sights to Michael Clayton.

The plot description on IMDB is most succinct: "An attorney known as the Fixer in his law firm comes across the biggest case of his career that could produce disastrous results for those involved." It's screenwriter Tony Gilroy's first attempt at directing and he lucked out with some phenomenal talent: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson - all of whom nabbed acting nominations as well. To see what I think Michael Clayton has going for and against it in this year's race, read more.

Why It Might Win

The Academy seems to be smitten with this film. Other movies in this category have already won many awards in other circles, but this is the first awards committee to seem truly besotted with Clayton.
Director Tony Gilroy delivers some of the best direction I've seen in any of the movies from 2007. The quick edits and artful alternating between storylines makes for a visually interesting story. I was particularly struck by the ending in which the credits roll and the camera stays on Clayton's face as he sits in a cab, his destination unknown. The attention to detail on Gilroy's part is impressive.
That George Clooney . . . he's just so darn watchable. Playing the titular character, he struggles through this turning point in his life and we know that though he was once less of an upstanding person, there's no doubt that he's the ragged hero of this story. You just gotta love Clooney.

Why it Might Not Win

Though beloved by many critics and, clearly, the Academy, this movie isn't particularly appealing in the general sense. Many people found it to be boring, confusing and simply not enjoyable. Every one of the other movies nominated for Best Picture this year was a bigger hit with audiences.
While the larger message in this movie has to do with moving from moral emptiness to a place of redemption, in general, the subject matter isn't particularly grand. Lacking a sweeping universal subject as well as much interesting action, it may not grab that Best Picture award.
The same reason that it might win also works against Michael Clayton: it's been nominated for several awards. The Academy might reward the film in other categories and hand the statue for Best Picture to another movie.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Clive and Julia Double Up for Duplicity

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:12:25 -0700

As you may know by now, I will jump at any chance to write about Clive Owen, and thankfully today's news includes some cool details in addition to Clive's gorgeous face.
In quick bites, here are the facts:

Clive Owen and Julia Roberts will reteam for the first time since they played a troubled married couple in Closer.
This next project is titled Duplicity.
The movie is "a caper pic set in the world of big business. They play longtime lovers who happened to work as spies on opposite sides. They team up to stage an elaborate con to rip off corporations and steal a valuable product."
Tony Gilroy, who recently wrote and directed the George Clooney drama Michael Clayton and who previously wrote all three Bourne movies (along with another of my personal favorites, The Cutting Edge), will write and direct Duplicity.

I'm curious to see Julia play a badass spy, and even more anxious to watch the Clive with his sparkling eyes and Julia's toothy grin paired up on the big screen.

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Michael Clayton: Even Clooney Can't Revive Something So Sleepy

BuzzSugar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:00:00 -0700

George Clooney is an incredibly handsome man. He's a capable actor and has an endearing way about him onscreen. As a general rule, I love watching him and will seek him out in pretty much any capacity. Additionally, director Tony Gilroy is responsible for writing such successful suspense movies as the Bourne trilogy. So why did I nearly doze off during Michael Clayton?

Clooney does his charming, disarming best in this role, but I'm not convinced it's a great role. Gilroy wants badly for the audience to care about the titular character, but doesn't give us any reason to do so. Same goes for the plot in general. You can gather together the greatest actors around, but if we're given no way to connect to either the story or the characters, we viewers will find ourselves, well, falling asleep. To see what I mean, read more

Michael Clayton is a legal "janitor," someone who cleans up the evil messes of a law firm's morally questionable clients. He's a dad, a reformed gambling addict, and someone with some major money troubles. The mess he's currently cleaning up has to do with a shady "agrochemical manufacturer" company U/North that has done some kind of bad thing that is never really explained. So, there are allusions to the stakes being high, but no clear explanation for why they are that high. There are just some people (headed up by Tilda Swinton's nervous character) who will apparently stop at nothing to hide the company's wrongdoings (which, again, we don't really know anything about).

Clayton's colleague on the U/North case, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson, who turns in a wonderful performance), has finally lost it - he stopped taking his meds and, after years of defending morally corrupt clients, grew a raging conscience. Clayton mildly tries to help his poor, crazy colleague while also dealing with such personal struggles as a surly son he doesn't listen to very well and trying to pay his substantial debts. Clooney is so beautiful and much of what he does in this film is subtle and understated, so kudos to him for that. Yet when a "suspenseful" drama puts people to sleep, I wish the filmmakers would have opted for not so much understatement. If only the coolest and savviest of moviegoers are able to stay awake through this film, then count me among the dumb, drooling masses.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.