Two ex-government agents turned rival industrial spies have to be at the top of their game when one of their companies prepares to launch a major product. However, they distract each other in more ways than one.
I’m so annoyed. A movie with Julia Roberts usually offers fun, intrigue, and lots of sly mega-watt smiles. Toss in the ever-so-dashing Clive Owen and the movie should be a hit of decent levels which is why this movie disappoints so much. Writer and director Tony Gilroy brought us some astounding scripts like “The Cutting Edge,” “The Devil’s Advocate,” and the Jason Bourne series! What happened, because his work up until this film bordered on perfection.
Julia Roberts plays Claire Stenwick, an ex-CIA agent while her co-star, Clive Owen, portrays Ray Koval, an ex-MI6 agent. Now they want to team up on the sly to make a fortune. These spies are corporate operatives battling on different sides of all-out corporate war in a game of cat and mouse on a much bigger scale than they previously played before. All the while, the two meet on the rouge for long nights and plotting sessions.
The problem starts as we only see the couple questioning each other in a hotel room several months before the previous scene. They jump around from one place to the next and from one group of people to the next so much and fast audience heads spin before losing interest and head off to sweep the kitchen floor. To make matters worse, they occasionally split the screen off into sections as if jumbling the pieces or maybe connecting them, who knows?
Both Claire and Ray have some serious trust issues, which show to the point of aggravation. Worse, they have absolutely no chemistry. A brother and sister have more spark than these two cold fish. Julia was so off her game. She has proven her acting ability, so one has to wonder if this was the directing or if she was half asleep for the movie. Clive at least put in some effort, you could feel him trying to make the best of a bad shot.
All the other characters lost my attention as the screen flitted around too much to even learn everyone’s name or which side they worked for. Overall, the film failed as an enjoyable spy flick, romance, intrigue, and well every other way possible. I only gave it 1 1/2 stars for the famous names linked to the tragic film. Even the ending was lifeless and predictable. Just move on past this disc on the shelf. Go find any other spy movie to fill up two entire hours of your night. Even “The Spy Who Shagged Me” was at least memorable and had a few laughs.
Now available on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment
