Blu-Ray Review: Clever, Entertaining ‘Duplicity’ Deserves Wider Audience

CHICAGO – In my role as a film critic, I’m always hearing complaints about the lack of films aimed at adults. It’s true that most of what Hollywood delivers is designed to please teenagers. But can you blame them when a great adult comedy like “Duplicity” comes out and hardly anyone goes to see it? Now on Blu-Ray, the Clive Owen and Julia Roberts film from the man who made “Michael Clayton” deserves to find the audience that missed it in theaters.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

With the same whip-smart dialogue that made “Michael Clayton” one of the most acclaimed films of the last several years, Tony Gilroy returns with a ridiculously talented ensemble working on all cylinders to produce an old-fashioned thriller of dialogue. A throwback to globe-hopping mysteries with gorgeous people (think “Charade”), “Duplicity” features two great stars at their most easygoing and charming.

Duplicity was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Believe it or not, there are writers and actors still willing use educated dialogue to tell their stories and “Duplicity” will require some brain power just to keep up with the plot. What I like so much about Gilroy’s work is that playing catch-up with his complex films is fun because you know they will have a quality pay-off. “Duplicity” is well-worth a rental and if the Blu-Ray release was a bit better, I would say it was worth a purchase.

Duplicity was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009. Photo credit: Universal Home Video

I don’t want to ruin any of the copious surprises of the twisting and turning plot of “Duplicity”. The main joy of the film is the way in which Gilroy’s screenplay reveals each twist and turn, layering the film with flashbacks that shed light on what’s happening in the present-day scenes.

Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti play Howard Tully and Richard Garsik, respectively, the CEOs of two major, Halliburton-sizes companies brilliantly named Burkett & Randle and Omnikrom. In the race to beat the other one to the next great product, they have entire departments devoted to stopping (and maybe committing a little) corporate espionage.

Finally getting a role that proves why he was once considered for Bond, Clive Owen plays former MI6 agent Ray Koval, an expert spy who now works for Garsik in trying to figure out what Tully’s next move will be. Koval’s team monitors emails, copy machines, and even hacks into security cameras and bank accounts. And they even have a mole on the other side in former CIA agent Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts), who also happens to have a history and possibly a present with Ray.

And that’s really just the beginning. “Duplicity” could be seen as a lighter version of “Michael Clayton” as Gilroy is once again playing in the world of big business and the talented people behind the scenes who really make it work. I think there is one flashback too many and the film would have been stronger under two hours instead of just over, but it only holds a potentially great film back to being just a damn good one.

The Blu-Ray release for “Duplicity” looks and sounds great but comes a bit light on special features. Universal doesn’t employ their great U-Control feature, offering only a commentary from Gilroy and Editor/Co-Producer John Gilroy. I’ve been lucky enough to meet Tony and he’s one of the most interesting men in Hollywood. So, a commentary is great, but there are no deleted scenes or behind-the-scenes details. Not even one interview with the stars, something that might have brought in more viewers. The video (in 1080p with a 2.40:1 transfer) and the audio (English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) are typical for Universal - which means they’re great.

“Duplicity” fell between the cracks when it was released in theaters, but I think it will find a loyal audience at home. Do your part and check it out.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com