A slick, cat-and-mouse thriller that unfolds with sharply-diminishing plausibility.
Comment
10/18/08
Deception (2008)
12
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:92
Fresh:11
Rotten:81
Average Rating:3.8/10
Consensus: Deception is a middling, predictable potboiler with mediocre dialogue and ludicrous plot twists.
Theatrical Release:25-04-2008
Synopsis: Marcel Langenegger makes his feature-film directorial debut with the aptly titled DECEPTION, a film about secrets and lies. Jonathan McQuarry (Ewan McGregor) feels that life is passing him by. He... [More]
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams, Natasha Henstridge
Director: Marcel Langenegger
Reviews for Deception
Mildly titillating, but not very good.
04/25/08
Top CriticStylishly directed and superbly acted but ultimately disappointing thriller, thanks to an over-familiar plot and some laughably bad dialogue.
10/18/08
It is about as erotic as a midweek National Express coach journey to Hitchin.
10/18/08
Top CriticThe lack of a proper title is only the first sign that it's barely half-baked.
04/24/08
Despite its timid title, Deception has all the right ingredients for a decent tale of mystery. The real mystery is why this strong beginning led to such a weak and conventional conclusion.
04/24/08
Judged entirely below the belt it's almost worth watching, but from the heart on up it's just not a good enough lie to be entertaining.
04/25/08
[D]espite a fair amount of suspense and good performances from all three leads, this is one of those films where [the central] scheme ... depends on a million little unpredictable details breaking properly.
04/24/08
All of the lead actors involved are far above the material. If they weren't involved it probably would have premiered on Cinemax at 3a.m.
06/08/08
You'd think that with all the focus groups and test marketing Hollywood does that somewhere along the line someone would have said, "hey, don't you think this one strains credibility a bit too much?"
06/08/08
Deception is kind of like the Oscars. Both plod lamely at the beginning, milking inane dialogue, before trying to squeeze far too much into the last little bit.
04/24/08
This film would make a perfect commercial thriller for James Spader and Rob Lowe were it still 1994.
09/28/08
A thin thriller, burdened by clunky dialogue and prone to telegraphing its twists.
04/24/08
Top CriticFrankly there's nothing sadder in the world than to watch a sex-laden film unable to climax properly.
04/25/08
It's almost as if someone involved let the cat out of the bag figuring that angry critics are certainly better for your career than angry, pissed-off fans. (Hugh, I'm looking at you.)
04/25/08
High in gloss and light on brains.
04/25/08
In this case, audiences are deceived.
04/27/08
Deception collapses into such a ridiculous pile of plot twists and double crosses, that there's nothing pleasurable about it -- guilty or otherwise. It tries to deceive us into thinking it makes sense.
04/24/08
Despite a cast that includes double-crossers Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor and Michelle Williams caught in the middle, the film is a yawn.
04/25/08
Detective Russo is bored with the story John tells her as soon as she hears it. And so, you feel instantly aligned with her, again, long steps ahead of all the shenanigans.
04/30/08
Latest News for Deception
September 10, 2008:
The most intriguing mystery may be the poor performance lately of Wall Street, as Deception suggests a yen for hard core kinky private sex clubs among the financial swells, that could be distracting them from proper concentration on money management. 
More...
April 24, 2008:
Critics Consensus: Parental Advisory for Baby Mama; Harold and Kumar Is Up In Smoke
This week at the movies, we have expecting ladies (Baby Mama, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler), on-the-lam stoners (Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, starring John... More...
April 24, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Odd Couples Invade Multiplexes
Two new buddy comedies enter the marketplace during the final weekend of the spring box office hoping to cash in on what business is left in the last week before Iron Man flies... More...
April 24, 2008:
Why Fox Decided to Practice Deception
The Hugh Jackman/Ewan McGregor drama Deception might seem like an odd fit for 20th Century Fox, but it actually proves that Hollywood is built on relationships after all. More...
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