Duplicity

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Plot: Duplicity is a love story about MI-6 agent Ray Stovel (Clive Owen) and CIA Agent Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts) who became lovers, and try a scam to make millions so they can run away together. They get involved in a rivalry between two companies, and try to sell the secrets of one company to another. Paul Giamatti steals the show as one of the evil CEO's.

Review: This is an intelliegent movie that goes for more complicated laughs. You need to understand the motivations of the people to see the humor. I think business people will like this more than others.  The writing is excellent with good dialog, an understandable plot, clever plot twists and a good ending. I would like to have seen our spies be a little less cerebral.

This was the funnest movie of the year so far. We have had better movies, but nothing as fun as this yet.

Cast and crew:
Julia Roberts, Clive Owens, Paul Giamatti; written and directed by Roy Gilroy

Rating: 3.0 flasks


More:
There seem to have been more than one page to that formula. The structure seemed have silicon, but later there was an actual formula with supplier names. What were the Swiss guys looking at on the screen? Most lotions don't have silicon. I wish someone would post that structure.

Knowing

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Plot: Knowing is about a numerical prophecy written by a schoolgirl and found fifty years later by John and Caleb Koestler (Nicholas Cage and Chandler Canterbury.) John decodes the prophecy, and tries to interpret the unfulfilled prediction of coming disasters, which turn out to be increasing serious. John picks-up Diana Wayland (Rose Byrne) and her daughter Allison (Adrienne Pickering), and soon they encounter the mysterious Whisperers who are talking to the children.  This leads to a science-fiction apocalypse conclusion with biblical overtones, and lots of people die. 

Review: Knowing is a decent movie. I can't help seeing Nicholas Cage in National Treasure being obsessed about clues only he can see, and I was looking for something new. I an unknown actor would have been better. I also think the decoding of the numbers just seemed far fetched. 

The film has some interesting visuals, and the special effects do not rise to the level of recent masterpieces. My standards for excellent special effects have increased. I could not help thinking -- "that looks fake". Despite the fakeness, I liked the subway crash scene. It reminded me of Silver Streak. 

Cage is a decent actor, but I am tired of him. The two kids were a bit flat. Rose Byrne does an excellent worried and scared look, but her part is small.

Cast and crew:
Nicholas Cage, Rose Byrne; directed by Alex Proyas

Rating: 2.5 flasks
1/2
More:
How can a movie with so many people dying have a happy ending?

Even more: The movie wrestles with determinism versus randomness issues, but I don't get how aliens mean that we are all going to see each other in heaven.