Deception (I) (2008)

An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by his lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist.

Director:

Marcel Langenegger

Writer:

Mark Bomback

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ewan McGregor	...	Jonathan McQuarry
Hugh Jackman	...	Wyatt Bose
Michelle Williams	...	S
Bruce Altman	...	Lawyer #1
Andrew Ginsburg	...	Lawyer #2
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Assistant Controller
Christine Kan	...	Tennis Player
Dante Spinotti	...	Herr Kleiner / Mr. Moretti
Karolina Muller	...	Waitress (as Karolina Müller)
Agnete Oernsholt	...	Woman at Waldorf Astoria
Melissa Rae Mahon	...	Velvet Rope Dancer #1
Rachel Montez Collins	...	Velvet Rope Dancer #2
Holly Cruikshank	...	Velvet Rope Dancer #3
Deborah Yates	...	Tango Dancer
Bill Camp	...	Clancey Controller

Storyline

Cat and mouse. Jonathan McQuarry is an auditor in Manhattan, moving from office to office checking their books. While working late, a smooth and well-dressed man named Wyatt Bose chats Jonathan up, offers him a joint, and soon they're pals. When their cell phones are accidentally swapped, Jonathan answers Wyatt's phone to a series of women asking if he's free tonight. Jonathan discovers it's a sex club: busy powerful people meet each other anonymously in hotels. Jonathan falls for one of the club members, whom he knows only as "S," whom he's also seen on a subway. When she goes missing, patterns emerge and Jonathan faces demands involving violence and lots of money.

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Plot Keywords:

sex | disappearance | friend | lawyer | cell phone | 

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Taglines:

When you're in this world, no one is who they seem, and everyone is playing the game.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, language, brief violence and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [us] Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The List

Filming Locations:

Bryant Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£255,958 (UK) (25 April 2008)

Gross:

$4,597,760 (USA) (20 June 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Seed Productions, Rifkin-Eberts, Kanzaman

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the fact that this was filmed in high-definition video and Super 35, "Filmed in Panavision" is shown in the end credits.

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Goofs

In the narrative of the story, the point is made that the intent of one of the rules of The List is that of anonymity. When McQuarry met the Wall Street Belle (Charlotte Rampling's character), while she herself offers no clues to her identity, she makes no effort to conceal it either. McQuarry easily learns her identity when he sees her portrait on the cover of Forbes magazine.

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Quotes

Wyatt Bose: So do you like this work?
Jonathan McQuarry: Yea, I do. The order of it appeals to me... the symmetry... It's alright, I guess, if you like working with numbers.

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Crazy Credits

The end credit sequence initially lists Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor as "Ewan Jackman" and "Hugh McGregor" before forming the correct names.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 26 April 2008 (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Price You Pay"
Performed by Unkle
Written by James Lavelle (PRS), Richard File (PRS), Christopher Allen Goss (as Chris Goss) (PRS)
Published by Copyright Control/Baby Cole Music
Courtesy of Surrender All Ltd.
By Arrangement with Zync Music Inc.
Contains a sample of the track Eruption, taken from the album Prisms
by Michael Garrison [203920]
Courtesy of Siebenpunkt/Mint Records Germany.
Written by Michael Garrison
Licensed courtesy of Siebenpunkt/Mint Records
www.unkle.com

User Reviews

Not great, not bad, but mostly boring

This movie is supposed to be a thriller, but is unfortunately quite short of "thrills".

My biggest complaint would be the movie's pace - it is very slow, and at times quite boring.

There are far too many implausabilities and plot holes, but even if you suspend your disbelief and just accept the story being told, it's still not a very good movie.

The script just isn't very good.

This is by no means the worst movie ever, however if you're looking for a GOOD thriller, I would not recommend this movie as one.

It's a shame really, because Hugh needs another good movie to boost his career. His last few have not been critical or box office smash hits (save the X-Men franchise), and I'm starting to seriously doubt his ability to pick good scripts. Hopefully "Australia" will turn his sadly not- so-good streak around.