Deception

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A smooth, handsome con-man posing as a lawyer (Hugh Jackman) seduces a meek accountant (Ewan McGregor) into a dangerous game of sex and blackmail using a beautiful woman (Michelle Williams) as bait.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Maggie Q, Natasha Henstridge, Charlotte Rampling

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! This is the sort of project that could have just as easily starred actors like Casper Van Dien, Antonio Sabato Jr, and Brooke Burns and be available straight to DVD at Blockbuster. So with an A-list cast and studio backing, there’s just no excuse for this movie to be the cold fish that it is. The twists aren’t twisty enough and the logic holes are too large to be glossed over, especially considering there’s not much entertainment value here, in the first place.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not really.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you’re going to a movie called Deception wondering if you might cry, you probably need to see more movies.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Not unless they start inventing awards for Best Tour of NYC Hotel Rooms. If so, then skip the nominating process and just hand this movie the award right now.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: There’s no question the three leads are all A: gorgeous, and B: extremely talented. McGregor is clearly having fun subverting his star-magnetism into a mild-mannered auditor. And Michelle Williams somehow manages to make a woefully underwritten part really darn interesting. Memo to Hollywood: Please put this woman in better films because there’s no actress out there right now who clearly deserves it more.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Shiny and professional, which one would hope for in a movie with this sort of cast and what was surely a huge budget. If only they’d worked on the script a bit more. Okay, a lot more.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It’s an interesting set-up, but it takes too long to start. And we know the twist is coming, but when it does, it falls short and then stumbles along into such complete and utter improbability that it defies logic to the point where it can’t help but turn the entire movie into one huge joke. Unfortunately, the joke is on the paying customers in the theater.

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