Movie Review: Deception
One of the flaws of "Deception" is that it deceives viewers into thinking, for a while, that they might be in for something slightly different, something that doesn't hew to the safe conventions of the standard Hollywood thriller. There are small signs throughout that hint at deeper intentions, a willingness to upend our expectations while still satisfying our demand for slick genre entertainment. But just as we grow optimistic that we're about to be rewarded, "Deception" loses its nerve and falls back into the exact trenches of conformity it seemed ready to sidestep.
The early scenes set us up for disappointment by their promising indication of a modest character study lurking behind the glossy exterior. One of the film's positives is that it takes its time without wasting time. Ewan McGregor is Jonathan, a timid New York accountant with a Clark Kent haircut and glasses who spends his days -- and, often, his nights -- in the impersonal offices of the large companies he audits. He enjoys his work because of its orderly symmetry but is clearly dissatisfied with his uneventful life.
He gets the chance to spill his troubles when late one night he meets Wyatt (Hugh Jackman), a charismatic lawyer at the firm he's auditing. Wyatt loosens him up with his easy smile and open demeanor. They smoke a joint, talk, and look out the office windows at the glittering skyscrapers of Manhattan, where Jonathan says life is passing him by.
That's all Wyatt needs to hear, and in no time he's taken Jonathan under his wing, showing him the life he's been missing: nightclubs, excitement, beautiful women. Everything about Wyatt's lifestyle appeals to him. We're left to wonder what Wyatt has to gain from becoming friends with someone he obviously looks down on to some degree. He's almost too friendly, too willing to have Jonathan tag along and share the fun.
And it is fun for a while, watching them circulate in the glamorous milieu Wyatt is used to. The movie's dark sheen succeeds in conjuring up a seductive world of money, sex, and power, making it easy for us to see why Jonathan is both immediately enthralled and still slightly intimidated. The one thing that's a bit hard to believe at times is McGregor as an average-looking, nebbishy type who's unable to get women on his own. Such is the misfortune of being a dashingly handsome actor.
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