After the Oscar nominated ‘Michael Clayton’, writer/director Tony Gilroy makes a comeback with his second feature film ‘Duplicity’. It has all the reasons to earn a high rating- a very tricky plot (next to the French Film ‘Tell No One’ screened last summer), high-tech office equipment, exotic locales and powerhouse performances by star pair Clive Owen and Julia Roberts. Gilroy does a superb job of probing and revealing corporate corruption through a romantic thriller focused at the intelligent audience.

Duplicity

Opening scenes, set in Dubai, creates a sensual atmosphere by making Ray Koval (Clive Owen) go to bed with Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts), and the film retains its sexy charm all through. When, five years later, Claire meets Ray, she refuses to recognize him. The initial witty repartee between the two actors reverberates throughout the course of the film as they keep meeting at different times and in different places. From being the former MI6 agent, and the  ex-CIA operative, Ray and Claire assume their roles as spies for rival companies Burkett & Randle and Omnikrom. It is obviously more luicrative than their prior government jobs. The spy game begins with Omnikrom procuring a handwritten letter that informs B&R’s future plans. It is to announce the launch of a product that will guarantees huge profits. However, the information is useless to Omnikrom and the two spies without the knowledge of the  details of the product. What follows is a deeper game with a series of deceptions that Ray and Claire practise on each other to snatch vital information.

Thoroughly intellugent, competent, and tough, Claire is hard to put down. Ray, with his smart thinking and quick moves, is a perfect match to Claire’s intellectual genius. The film attains a high degree of thrill as the two engage in mischief set in a coporate context. Oscar winner Julia Robert live up to her role and Clive Owen represents the debonair Ray with geat skill. Their online chemistry is excellent and the verbal play between Ray and Claire instantly captures the attention of the audience. The interplay between romance and corporate rivalry becomes intense with the continuous shuffling of the screenplay. Romance forms a parralel theme while the film analyzes the corporate world, the portrayal of which questions Ray and Claire’s trust on each other.

Gorgeous costumes, and glamorous locales, together with Robert Elswit’s camerawork, adds glitter to this smart romantic thriller. ‘Duplicity’ has surely increased the audience’s expectations of Gilroy.

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