Duplicity 4K 2009 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

CIA officer Claire Stanwick and MI6 agent Ray Koval left the world of government intelligence to profit from the Cold War raging between two rival multinational corporations. Their mission? To keep secret the formula that will ensure the prosperity of the first company to patent it. For their employers—industrial giant Howard Tully and shady businessman Dick Garzik—no method is off-limits in the pursuit of their goals. But as the stakes rise, the puzzles grow more complex and the methods dirtier; for Claire and Ray, the most surprising thing is their growing attraction to one another. And although each of them tries to play a double game, their ambitious schemes crumble because they cannot deceive their own love.

Review 4K Movie

Set in the high-stakes world of corporate espionage, this is a film built on the interplay between writer/director and viewer. It jumps from the present to flashbacks repeatedly, every time revising the viewer's understanding of present-day action.

There is ambiguity in the intentions of Ray (Clive Owen) and Claire (Julia Roberts), rival agents who join forces, it seems, to pull off a big payday. This is a romance between two people who never trust anyone. Is such a thing possible? The film keeps us guessing as each flashback adds another layer of understanding, in effect rewriting the story.

One must pay attention to follow the narrative as it twists, turns, and doubles back on itself, but the payoff is worth it.

One of my favorite things about this film is the music. The film credits James Newton Howard, who has a nearly-endless list of compositional accomplishments. The accompaniment to the opening credits of this film is a good indication of what is to come musically.

Much like "The Thomas Crown Affair", comedy is interwoven with the drama in an enjoyable way. A strong cast, well directed, keeps things just light enough that the drama is not undercut.