Ewan McGregor plays audit manager Jonathan McQuarry, an extremely shy loner who moves from assignment to assignment. While working late at a New York law firm, he meets lawyer Wyatt Bose (Hugh Jackman) who seems to be everything Jonathan isn’t: smooth, privileged and exuding self confidence, the auditor is immediately intrigued. Wyatt offers Jonathan a few tokes of marijuana and just like that, the two become fast friends.
Jonathan was raised by a single mother who died when he was nineteen. He admits that his career doesn’t allow him the opportunity to make many friends (“I just sometimes feel so…removed”). So, he is understandably eager as Wyatt introduces him to fine art and strip clubs. Since this is thriller, we know there is more to this than meets the eye; Wyatt has to be something other than what he appears to be.
Just before Wyatt heads to London for work, the two accidentally pick up each other’s cell phone by mistake–yet neither notice until it’s too late, the first of many plot stretches requiring you to swallow your common sense (seriously…why does Jonathan leave Wyatt a message on a phone he doesn’t know the voicemail password to?!).
Later that evening, Jonathan gets a phone call. He answers it to find a woman (Natasha Henstridge) on the other end saying, “Are you free tonight?” He replies, “Yes”, but tries to explain that he’s not Wyatt. She ignores him, and repeats her question. He complies, and agrees to meet her at a hotel. When she arrives, he again tries to explain, but she doesn’t listen and invites him to her room, where she seduces him. He awakens the next morning to find her gone.
So Jonathan, who at the beginning of this film could barely put two words together, starts enjoying the benefits of Wyatt’s high society sex club. Unfortunately, for first time director Marcel Langenegger, the sex scenes are far from erotic. This is partly due to the inane dialogue that screenwriter Mark Bomback (Godsend, Live Free or Die Hard) insists on putting the audience through. Jonathan meets another woman (Charlotte Rampling…she is so much better than this!) and has this exchange:
Woman: “If you are who you don’t seem to be, you’re late.”
Jonathan: “Excuse me?”
Woman: “Are you?”
Jonathan: “Late, or who I’m not supposed to be?”
Woman: “Either.”
Jonathan: “Yes, I am late, and I am who I don’t seem to be.”
Cameron (chiming in from the couch): “Who’s on first?”
That’s just bad and it’s certainly not erotic. Anyway, Jonathan quickly becomes addicted to the club; his numerous conquest shown as a montage. With his sexual awakening comes a new sense of confidence. However, that all changes when he meets up with a girl he saw on the subway a few days before (Michelle Williams). Instantly smitten, the two have dinner instead of sex during their first meeting. But she won’t share her name; all he knows is that it starts with “S”, so he opts to call her Sunbeam until he is certain.
But she warns him not to get close: “I don’t want to complicate your life.” “No! I want all the complications you’ve got!” During his second encounter, Jonathan returns from the ice machine to find a blood-soaked bed and no Sunbeam. He’s soon knocked out by a dark figure, later waking up and–in yet another absurd move–calls the cops, fearing the love of his life is in danger. Here’s what he gives Det. Russo (Lisa Gay Hamilton) to go on: “All I know about her is that her first name starts with ‘S’.”
If you still give a damn about Jonathan at this point, you’re a better person than me. This is a guy who does audits at major companies; shouldn’t he have a clue that something’s fishy here? Jonathan finally learns he’s being played through a nasty phone threat from Wyatt. This sets into motion a conclusion that is even more preposterous. So much so, it defies all logic. Deception is for those diehard McGregor and Jackman fans only.
Fox provided a screener for this review, so it’s unfair to make a final assessment on the image. You get an anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer that has an intentionally cold, dark feeling to it. The film was shot half on film, half on digital. It’s frequently gray, with cold tones permeating many set pieces. Some grain was noticeable, but there were no major issues otherwise.
The main track is a 5.1 option. Also provided are a Spanish and French Dolby Surround track, and subtitles in English and Spanish.
Deception does come with some special features:
• Audio Commentary with director Marcel Langenegger. From the sound of things, the first time director was fairly passionate about this film. Her discusses how he developed, shot and set up the film, etc.
• Exposing the Deception: The Making of the Film (18:06) – Features interviews with all of the main cast and crew.
• Club Sexy (10:01) – A discussion of the sex club industry with certified sex therapist Dr. Diana Wiley.
• Added Deception: Deleted Scenes (4:54) – with optional audio commentary from Langenegger.
