DUPLICITY (2009)

It’s smartly made film and different in its subject and presentation by the Writer/Director Tony Gilroy who gave fine corporate case thriller ‘Michael Clayton’. Here we have director who makes another film on corporate. Although this one is based on corporate rivalry and secret espionage to be a conglomerate giant. It’s not as serious or edgy as earlier ‘Michael Clayton’ but entertaining in all its bits and pieces.

The plot is based on the rivalry between two industry giant Multi National Companies and their owners who don’t miss a chance to kick one another and goes to any limit possible. Both of them hired their own smart heads for this. One is Ex- CIA officer (Julia Roberts), another is Ex-MI6 (Clive Owen). They have single mission to accomplish- Secure the formula for a product that will bring a fortune to the company that patent it first. Its game of messy double-cross, tactics and scheming.

Non chronological way of story telling handles the swinging pendulum of doubt running between Owen and Roberts. It’s not plot but the presentation which is in fine tuning. Both Julia and Clive seems average and their chemistry is not screen savvy. It would have been better if George Clooney has done the Owen’s part. More than lead pair, I like the act of supporting cast like- Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson. Both of them deserve a special mention here. The background score by James Newton Howard is awesome and it keeps your feet tapping.

Ratings- 7/10