Duplicity

“Duplicity” lives up to its name in this crime caper where trying to figure out who’s working for who is half the fun. CLAIRE (Julia Roberts) and RAY (Clive Owen) are spies working for different agencies when they fall for each other and eventually plan a scheme to get out of the game. They infiltrate two rival companies with a master plan. The trouble is, they have trust issues.

Director/Writer Tony Gilroy (“The Bourne Identity”) begins the film with an odd slow motion scene over jazz music showing two rival CEOs in a confrontation that resembles something out of WWE. This sets the quirky tone of the film. Gilroy begins the story of CLAIRE and RAY in 2003, advances five years to the present time, then reveals more of the plot through a series of strategically placed flashbacks. The dialogue is witty and quick, with characters often overlapping each other’s lines creating a jazz-like rhythm.

Roberts and Owen both give solid performances creating a warm, but not intense, chemistry as on screen love interests. Owen portrayed RAY’s intelligence along with his vulnerability with light and shade that made the character more believable. Other stand out performances include Paul Giamatti as RICHARD GARSIK, an obsessively competitive CEO and his rival HOWARD TULLY played equally strong by Tom Wilkinson.

Duplicity is an entertaining, glossy, glamorous crime caper, with international locales, a jet-setting undercover spy couple and groovy music. On the Biblical morality meter, however, it falls in rank for repeatedly using the Lord’s name in vain, profanity, sexual innuendo and some brief nudity. Specifically, RAY bares his chest in two scenes and CLAIRE bares her back lying in bed next to RAY. Most of their scenes together are fully clothed and focused on their dialogue, however.

One major moral issue of films like Duplicity (and Ocean’s Eleven and The Thomas Crown Affair) is the presentation of criminals as charismatic, funny and attractive, endearing the character to the audience and thereby lessening the impact of the actual crimes they commit.

These charismatic criminals remind me of the “seductress” or “strange woman” described in both Proverbs chapter six and seven. Each chapter warns you to hold to God’s word so you won’t be lured by the seductress’ flattering words.

Both CLAIRE and RAY practice deception through seduction, which is one reason they cannot trust each other. They lie for a living and can’t seem to turn the switch off when it comes to their relationship. In John 8:44, Jesus identifies the source of all

lies as the devil. The later part of that verse says, “…When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” The Bible clearly instructs believers to stop lying. In Colossians 3:9 (The Message) it says, “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.”

I believe mature adult audiences can see this movie and be entertained with a caution to the glamorization of crime and lovers outside of marriage. But I cannot recommend it due to using the Lord’s name in vain and profanity.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Mild

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people