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Duplicity

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Duplicity (2009)

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Reviews Counted:166

Fresh:108

Rotten:58

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Duplicity is well-crafted, smart, and often funny, but it’s mostly more cerebral than visceral and features far too many plot twists.

Australian Rating: PG [See Full Rating] Mild sexual references and coarse language

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Dramas

Australian Theatrical Release:
Mar 19, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $40,559,930

Synopsis: DUPLICITY is a slick, Soderberghian comic caper in which it’s never exactly clear who is being conned. It’s easy to see that ex-CIA agent Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts) and former MI6 member Ray... DUPLICITY is a slick, Soderberghian comic caper in which it’s never exactly clear who is being conned. It’s easy to see that ex-CIA agent Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts) and former MI6 member Ray Koval (Clive Owen) have a heated history together when they embark on an elaborate mission of corporate espionage. Two rival CEOs (played by the always fantastic Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti) are battling for the top spot in their industry, and a top-secret new product would determine who would wear the crown. But this isn’t just about business innovation and profit: Claire and Ray have a plan that would help them get the prized formula and walk away with millions. Tony Gilroy’s previous work as screenwriter and director--namely the Jason Bourne films and MICHAEL CLAYTON--didn’t give any indication that he could create something this bouncy and light. But while DUPLICITY is fun, it’s never dumb; it jumps back and forth in time with style, playing an elaborate game that its scheming lead characters would be proud of. As Ray and Claire, Owen and Roberts display the same fiery chemistry that they showed in the gut-punching romantic drama CLOSER, but this time, they play (mostly) nice. If DUPLICITY can draw comparison to the classic genre bender CHARADE, then it’s not a stretch to liken Owen to Cary Grant--he has an easy charm that ensnares not only each woman in the film but everyone in the audience as well. [More]

Starring: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti

Starring: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Dan Dailey, Lisa Roberts Gillan, David Shumbris, Rick Worthy, Denis O'Hare, Tom McCarthy

Director: Tony Gilroy

Director: Tony Gilroy
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Producer: Jennifer Fox, Kerry Orent, Laura Bickford
Composer: James Newton Howard
Studio: Universal Pictures

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Reviews for Duplicity

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
3.5/5

David Stratton

It's a pity...that James Newton Howard's music score is so relentlessly intrusive and that Gilroy's plotting gets so complicated before everything becomes clear in the end.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 27 2009 03:33 AM

The Australian

tomato
4/5

Sandra Hall

Once Gilroy has the film on track with all passengers aboard and accounted for, you do start wondering if he can keep up the momentum. He does -- although so much contrivance is involved that he often runs the risk of leaving you behind.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 27 2009 03:30 AM

Sydney Morning Herald

splat

Mark Demetrius

Essentially formulaic fare. Although Julia Roberts is quite good, the love scenes look exactly like what they are: famous people pretending.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 20 2009 04:30 AM

FILMINK (Australia)

tomato
4/5

Jake Wilson

On the simplest level, Duplicity is a tribute to the power of performance.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 20 2009 04:28 AM

The Age (Australia)

tomato
3/5

Margaret Pomeranz

There are nice moments, just not quite enough of them.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 20 2009 04:27 AM

At the Movies (Australia)

tomato

Louise Keller

Whatever the onscreen dilemma for Clive Owen's Ray and Julia Roberts' Claire, for us, it's a no-brainer. This slick and persuasive crime thriller has so much chemistry and chutzpah; we're hooked from the start

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 14 2009 12:38 AM

Urban Cinefile

splat
5/10

Jeffrey Chen

It might be saying something that I preferred to see [Giamatti and Wilkinson] in action than the two actual leads of the film.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 06 2009 04:19 PM

Window to the Movies

tomato
2.5/4

Sonny Bunch

Duplicity features the sort of story screenwriters dream of crafting in order to show off their aptitude.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 30 2009 12:42 PM

Washington Times

splat

Fernando F. Croce

The results are mistimed and misshapen, like Lubitsch after a vasectomy

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 25 2009 10:33 PM

CinePassion

tomato
3.5/4

Peter Canavese

The film's greatest pleasure is in the snappy dialogue Gilroy crafts for the capable duo of Roberts and Owen... [Blu-ray]

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 22 2009 08:49 PM

Groucho Reviews

splat
D+

Paul Chambers

You gotta be flawless to tell a story out of sequence. This ain't no Memento. God, Julia is getting old.

Full Review Source: | comment 4 Comments | Aug., 21 2009 04:29 AM

CNNRadio

tomato
B+

Jordan Hoffman

It's not unfair to say that Duplicity is Michael Clayton on laughing gas. What's remarkable is that both movies pretty much work.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 14 2009 11:49 AM

UGO

tomato

Drew McWeeny

[Tony] Gilroy may have taken his time honing his voice as a filmmaker, but there's little doubt that he's got it down to a science at this point.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 01 2009 02:49 PM

HitFix

splat
C-

Clay Cane

Duplicity is like sitting in a two-hour lecture from a college professor who reads straight from the text and never makes eye contact. Do you know there is an audience here?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 10 2009 05:00 PM

BET.com

splat
3/5

Karina Montgomery

This movie wasn't firing on all cylinders despite some of them being great cylinders.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 31 2009 08:55 PM

Cinerina

tomato
3.5/4

Greg Maki

... Plays like a more sophisticated Ocean's Eleven, the extra heft coming from its corporate setting.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 15 2009 09:51 AM

Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

splat
1.5/5

Joseph Proimakis

Click for full review

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 10 2009 03:20 AM

Movies for the Masses

tomato
4.5/5

Dan Lybarger

'Duplicity' is a cleverly charming and sophisticated film about treacherous people.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 01 2009 10:00 PM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato
B+

Bruce Bennett

It won't receive the critical ballyhoo of his previous film, but where Gilroy's 'Michael Clayton' lacked imagination and surprise, 'Duplicity' is a fun, witty romp.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 01 2009 09:30 PM

Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

tomato
3/4

James Berardinelli

When it comes to spy thrillers, Tony Gilroy knows the game.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 30 2009 03:15 AM

ReelViews

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Duplicity

July 23, 2009: RT on DVD: Duplicity, Friday the 13th and MacGyver!
If you're looking for a bit of DVD froth and fun on the couch on a cold winter's night, what could be better than a Julia Roberts/Clive Owen rom-com-caper? The dialogue is... More...

March 19, 2009: Critics Consensus: I Love You, Man Is A Fine Bromance
This week at the movies, we've got a bromantic comedy (I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel), ominous numerology (Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage and Rose Byrne),... More...

March 19, 2009: Box Office Guru Preview: Cage, Roberts, and Rudd Battle For #1 Spot
Three new films roll into North American multiplexes and for the first time in ages, all three have a realistic chance of claiming the number one spot. Comedies have been... More...

March 14, 2009: Duplicity teams masters of mutual deceit in sizzling make up sex for spies, Julia squirming her way through one night stand pretend amnesia with toe rings, and a different kind of screwing of flabby corporate cutthroats in designer suits. Opens in new window
More...

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