| We watch crap so you don't have to! |
| Mungles on Movies |
|
 |
|
Deception
In theaters April 25th 2008
sexual content, language, brief violence and some
drug use
Run Time: 108
Matt's rating - 3 out of 5
==========================================
Review by Matt Mungle
One definition Webster's gives to the word deception
is, "something that deceives". As an example if I told
you that the new film Deception was a cutting edge
thrill ride that keeps you guessing until the end. An
end that is so clever and so unpredictable it ranks
right up there with The Joy Luck Club and Primal Fear;
that would be a deception. A very large deception. In
fact, it would be a blatant lie. The truth is that this film
is decent but a bit predictable. One that will not be
remembered or ranked but instead sort of watched
and forgotten. Now you know the truth and hopefully
that truth will set you free to go watch something else
or give this a shot with no hype or expectations.
Jonathan (Ewan McGregor) is a mild mannered
accountant who sort of drifts through his uneventful
life. When he begins a friendship with the charismatic
Wyatt (Hugh Jackman) he finds himself in the middle
of what seems to be excitement and sexual adventure
but soon discovers he is being played. Due to a
mistaken identity Jonathan has a Deuce Bigalow
moment and finds himself in an anonymous sex club,
catering to upper-class business women who are
looking for, as one woman states it, intimacy without
intricacies. He is willing to go along with this new
found game until his old fashioned nature kicks in and
he finds himself caring deeply for one woman
(Michelle Williams) in particular. By then it is too late
and he is now faced with trying to save her life while
staying out of jail.
I liked this film for the most part. It stayed on its plotted
course and ended up where most would suspect. The
acting is what you would expect from past examples.
McGregor has this boyish charm that is sellable as
the gullible, shy guy. In contrast Jackman is the
dominant character and has a way of flexing that
without being over bearing. If you swapped these two
roles it would never work. But allowing the actors
physical attributes to come through, it does. Williams,
though decent, is the weakest factor. Actually weak is
not fair to her. It would be better to say that she doesn't
bring anything of herself to this role. You could have
replaced her with any other warm body from
Hollywood with the same results. It could be what the
character called for, but would have been nice to see a
little of her in the role.
Deception is rated R for sexual content, language,
brief violence and some drug use. There are also a
few scenes of brief nudity which add up to a fair
amount of nudity over all. The sexuality is rampant and
though shot in a way that is artistic and full of
shadows and cutaways, it is still a dominant part of
the film. The deception takes place in a "sex group"
and so the theme and details of that are evident. It is
not a vulgar film by any means. If anything I commend
them for not going as overboard as they could have.
They used what they had to in order to set up the plot
and define the characters. Nothing more, nothing
less. But still be aware of the seductive sexuality of the
film. I give Deception 3 out of 5, star 69's. It is
watchable but unfortunately, forgettable. And those
turned off by sexuality in film will not find enough solid
plot to make up for the content.
============================================================
Matt and Cindy are members of the North Texas
Film
Critics Association (NTFCA). For additional
reviews
and interview clips visit the website.
|
Mungleshow Productions
Matt Mungle
|
|
|
|
|
