How could so many A-list actors make such a tedious movie? This is what kept going through my mind throughout "Duplicity," as Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson each had starring roles in this wanna-be thriller. Watching a serious treatment of the villainy behind (self-important pause) corporate espionage are pretty low stakes for a movie audience. No one was in danger of death, serious injury, or even jail in the course of "Duplicity." Instead it was an overly long game of one-upmanship, played by Roberts v. Owen and Giamatti v. Wilkinson. No matter who wins, the audience ultimately loses. What a waste of good talent.
Claire (Roberts) works for a rival corporation from Ray (Owen; "The International"). They are both former government agents who have been hired to spy on their business competition. Claire works in counter-espionage but may be willing to sell her secrets for a price. Owen has an obvious attraction for Roberts but he does not completely trust her. The feeling is mutual. The owner of one company (Wilkinson; "Valkyrie") is planning to launch a new product, which the owner of another company (Giamatti; HBO's "John Adams") catches wind of. Every trash basket is overturned in an attempt to learn what the product is and potentially to steal it. What other angles do Claire and Ray have going besides their official positions at the companies? And again, why should audiences ultimately sympathize about these self-important folks?
The otherwise wonderful character actors Giamatti and Wilkinson are pushed to the brink of overacting to create some tension and authentic emotion in a rather dry environment. Owen and Roberts fare better, given some sexually-tinged banter to exchange by writer-director Tony Gilroy ("Michael Clayton"). He can write compelling drama but this is one of his lesser works. The underlying premise of "Duplicity" is downright awful; therefore no amount of competent execution can make this film better than its roots.
The film gets confusing in sections as it jumps back and forth in time trying to further explain Claire and Ray's history. But the constant distrust between the man and woman spy is not sexy, though the movie pushes the romantic angle. The banter between Owen and Roberts may be light and breezy but it isn't funny. A little tension is created at the end as a well-developed plan finally comes to fruition. But the stakes feel so petty and unimportant, you'll be hard pressed to care how things work out. Sorry Tony, I liked your screenplay for "State of Play" (released on DVD a few weeks earlier) much better than this.
Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content.
