Julia Roberts’ film Duplicity opens on Friday. It’s really good. It’s good for a lot of reasons — it’s smart, it’s funny, it has great twists — which is why it should have very broad appeal. But it is a movie for adults, you actually have to be interested in thinking and processing information, so the young men so coveted by Hollywood will probably skip it.
The film is written and directed by Tony Gilroy who also write and directed the awesome Michael Clayton. I liked this one just as much as Michael Clayton if not more. But Michael Clayton has only a modest success and only made $50 million domestically, not big numbers, and it had George Clooney in it.
Duplicity has Clive Owen along with Julia and we know that he’s no box office draw, and it falls into the category of adult drama which is sadly disappearing from the multiplexes.
So it’s up to Julia.
If Duplicity is a big hit she’ll get some credit, but people will talk about the movie, but if it’s a flop it’s all her fault. The stories (which have already started) is that she took too much time off to be with her kids, that she’s 40, that she was a product of the 90s…yada yada yada.
From the Hollywood Reporter:
“If (‘Duplicity’) does well, everyone will say, ‘Julia’s back,’ ” a top industryite mused. “If it doesn’t, then I guess she’ll be where everyone else is.”
I would imagine that Julia Roberts like any woman or man would want to grow as an actress and as a person. She took a smaller role in Charlie Wilson’s War a couple of years ago dipping her toes back in and she has another supporting role coming up this spring in Fireflies in the Garden.
But stepping back into a leading role as a woman you gotta get slapped back and put in your place. There is not enough room for too many successful female actresses. It’s all about Angelina now, not Julia or so they say. Please.
Here’s how the piece ends:
Even in acting, Roberts’ development projects suggest a new chapter. She’s on board for a more traditional Roberts role, the female-oriented “Eat, Pray, Love,” which was recently picked up by Columbia from Paramount. But she also is signed on to play the conservationist Joan Root — a far cry from prancing around with Hugh Grant. Whatever happens this weekend, she’ll be a long way from Notting Hill.
Why is playing a strong, interesting woman like Joan Root seen as such a departure for Roberts? Are our memories so short that we don’t remember Erin Brockovich? While I love Notting Hill as much as anyone, I would also see Eat, Pray, Love and the Joan Root film.
Let’s just let the movies speak for themselves and stop putting women in boxes and punishing them for having kids and then wanting to get back in the game.
‘Duplicity’ to test Julia Roberts’ star power (HR)
Does anyone else think the advertising for Duplicity makes it look more like a rom com than a spy thriller? It feels like the studios are trying to make it look like a rom com between Roberts and Owen so it can get Roberts’ rom com audience. I’m very confused about the tone and would rather have it promoted as a spy thriller than rom com. I really liked Michael Clayton and will probably see the film because it is the same director. I’m glad to hear it may even be better than Clayton! That’s much more interesting to me — Roberts in a spy thriller rather than another rom com.
Jane, I’m with U on that one, I actually thought it was a rom-com until I read Hollywood Elsewhere where Wells said it was otherwise.
This movie sounds brilliant, and I get a sense that Julia Roberts is sick of “America’s Sweetheart” label.
I will see it for Clive Owen and because I love Gilroy.
It’s an adult movie, hopefully it will open. If it doesn’t I don’t think the industry should blame Julia. Give me a break.
I’ll see it for the female lead role and because I love spy like grifter like story lines in general. I’m not a JR fan, however, her performance in Charlie Wilson’s War wowed me, so, she has earned some movie watching respect from me.
My 20 yr. old son and may go see it together.
My question is, is there a lot of sex in it? If so, I may reconsider seeing it with my son. Sex scenes in films tend to make me uncomfortable when I’m alone, let alone with my kid.
No there was not too much sex. It was tasteful. If you want to avoid sex and raunch stay away from I Love You Man.
I’m seeing it for my man Clive Owen. B)
I hope this film does really well at the box office. We need female stars to generate buzz as they gracefully age. Julia is still awesome!
I’ll see it despite the fact that it has Julia Roberts in it.
Julia Roberts is still stunning and I love Clive Owen. I would see the movie just to see their chemistry alone. I don’t understand the mean spiritedness by reviewers and journalists towards women as they start to age in film. I think it is just plain sexism when they criticize her for talking time off for her kids and for being older. Those two things alone make you a better actress giving you more juice, depth, wisdom and life experience to inject into your characters. Could they just stick to their opinion of the artistry of the film and performances and leave out the personal jabs aimed at women – especially women of a certain age. I am so sick of it.
Amen. Duplicity did not do so well this weekend making only $14.4 million. The stats have the audience over 78% over 30. Sigh.