Plot question about the movie "Duplicity"
March 27, 2009 3:05 PM Subscribe
Got a question about the film "Duplicity," which opened last week. It's a plot point, concerning the opening credit sequence.
To remind those who've seen it, it involves a slow-motion confrontation between the two rival corporate heads, as they battle at an airport runway, while their aides watch them in horror. My question is--at what point, chronologically, does this "duel" take place? Does it occur after the film's ending (once the climax occurs), making the whole film a flashback? Or is it a prelude, setting up their hatred and rivalry? Both explanations make sense. I'm also wondering--why did the two corporate heads agree to meet in such a dramatic setting in the first place? Why do their aides stand back and let this confrontation take place? What is this meeting supposed to accomplish? Any insights would be most welcome.
To remind those who've seen it, it involves a slow-motion confrontation between the two rival corporate heads, as they battle at an airport runway, while their aides watch them in horror. My question is--at what point, chronologically, does this "duel" take place? Does it occur after the film's ending (once the climax occurs), making the whole film a flashback? Or is it a prelude, setting up their hatred and rivalry? Both explanations make sense. I'm also wondering--why did the two corporate heads agree to meet in such a dramatic setting in the first place? Why do their aides stand back and let this confrontation take place? What is this meeting supposed to accomplish? Any insights would be most welcome.
I don't think it really matters, the whole point was to show how much the two men despised each other. However, I think it works better if it takes place after the events of the film, and I don't think it was a pre-arranged meeting.
Odds are that both of their corporate jets ended up at the same private airport and the two CEOs took advantage of their proximity to have a confrontation. Their aides probably were told to stay back, or they just knew to keep their distance while the two head guys met. The aides obviously didn't expect that the meeting would get physical, hence the subsequent mad rush to intervene.
Also, I thought it was interesting how the composition of the group of aides were mirror images, with the same number of men and women, parallel ethnicities, almost the same clothing. Even the jets were the same except with different corporate logos. Basically the companies and their leaders were two sides of the same coin.
posted by fuse theorem at 6:06 PM on March 27, 2009
Odds are that both of their corporate jets ended up at the same private airport and the two CEOs took advantage of their proximity to have a confrontation. Their aides probably were told to stay back, or they just knew to keep their distance while the two head guys met. The aides obviously didn't expect that the meeting would get physical, hence the subsequent mad rush to intervene.
Also, I thought it was interesting how the composition of the group of aides were mirror images, with the same number of men and women, parallel ethnicities, almost the same clothing. Even the jets were the same except with different corporate logos. Basically the companies and their leaders were two sides of the same coin.
posted by fuse theorem at 6:06 PM on March 27, 2009
I'm pretty sure it said "18 months ago" on the screen as that scene started.
(or "18 MoNtHs AgO" in that font gimmick they were using)
posted by Lucie at 6:10 PM on March 27, 2009
(or "18 MoNtHs AgO" in that font gimmick they were using)
posted by Lucie at 6:10 PM on March 27, 2009
why did the two corporate heads agree to meet in such a dramatic setting in the first place? Why do their aides stand back and let this confrontation take place? What is this meeting supposed to accomplish?
It's parody of ultra-competitive corporate culture. The scene doesn't have any relevance except to draw attention to the absurdity of doughy businessmen acting like gladitorial rivals and to set a lighthearted mood. See Entre'acte.
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:28 PM on March 27, 2009
It's parody of ultra-competitive corporate culture. The scene doesn't have any relevance except to draw attention to the absurdity of doughy businessmen acting like gladitorial rivals and to set a lighthearted mood. See Entre'acte.
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:28 PM on March 27, 2009
I don't remember the "18 months" title occurring there. I believe this confrontation happened soon after the CEO shareholder meeting, judging by which character goes off first. It's slo-mo, the minions are seen going from interest to concern to indecision to decision to action. It's at a private airport and a coincidence, not a meeting between them. It's a great tee up -- Giamatti and Wilkenson are masters, and the brilliant 'duplicity' of the set design and casting, as someone pointed out above, sets the tone for everything that's to come.
posted by thinkpiece at 3:41 AM on March 28, 2009
posted by thinkpiece at 3:41 AM on March 28, 2009
I assumed it was concurrent with the Dubai scene. Illustrating the animosity between them. If the meeting was taking place after the general action in the movie (and why meet?) Wilkenson would be laughing his ass off.
posted by pointilist at 10:10 AM on March 29, 2009
posted by pointilist at 10:10 AM on March 29, 2009
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2. Both men are meglomaniacally in control of their companies and their respective minions do not see it as their place to intervene, until very late in this fight.
3. Asking what the meeting is supposed to accomplish is thinking too much. I doubt that even the screen writer knows.
posted by Danf at 3:15 PM on March 27, 2009