Deception (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:

Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, 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 Minor	...	Velvet Rope Dancer #2 (as Rachel Montez Collins)
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:

lawyer | heist | erotic thriller | scheme | scam | 

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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

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Cantonese

Release Date:

25 April 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The List

Filming Locations:

Instituto Cervantes, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,312,146, 27 April 2008, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$4,597,760, 22 June 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rifkin-Eberts, Seed Productions, Dune Entertainment III

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michelle Williams and Natasha Henstridge previously appeared in Species (1995), where they both played younger and older versions of the same character.

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Goofs

When Ewan McGregor's character goes to work on the day he has to transfer the money he goes into the subway station clearly marked "1" line, when he is standing on the platform with Hugh Jackman's character as the train doors open the P.A. says "next stop Park Place" - the station "Park Place" is not served by the "1" line, nor is it anywhere near the station he gets on at.

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Quotes

Jonathan McQuarry: Why should I trust you... everything you told me was a lie
Wyatt Bose: Oh... not lies Jonathan... that was FOREPLAY... now you are F... !

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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

Referenced in Padikkathavan (2009)

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Soundtracks

Keys to the Kingdom
Performed by Unkle
Written by James Lavelle (PRS), Richard File (PRS), Christopher Allen Goss (as Chris Goss) (PRS), and Gavin Clarke (as Gavin Clark) (PRS)
Published by Copyright Control/Baby Cole Music/Music Sales
Courtesy of Surrender All Ltd.
By Arrangement with Zync Music Inc.
www.unkle.com

User Reviews

Same old, same old...

The thriller genre has been well explored and perfected over decades of cinema. While some familiar elements and conventions are to be expected in a new release, you would expect, at the very least, that a new entry tops the previous ones.

And sadly, Deception does not. The movie almost feels like a remake of Curtis Hanson's Bad Influence. A movie that was made almost twenty years ago and features two main characters that are carbon copies of those of McGregor and Jackman, only they were played respectively by James Spader and Rob Lowe.

Whatever "twists" are found in Deception, you see them coming from a mile and they fall flat. The acting? Everybody seems to be cashing his check. One-dimensional characters and an aimless plot make for a boring two hours. Even the "list" subplot feels tacked on and doesn't even provide any enjoyment, nor does it add anything to the film.

The photography is amazing but this is truly a poor Hollywood movie and one that you will be better off passing on, unless you are a die-hard fan of the genre or one of the main actors featured. All in all, a tremendous waste of talent and resources due to a crappy script.