Absolute Deception is your typical run-of-the-mill, unrealistic and uber-predictable thriller that it really has nothing to offer. I suspect it was made for some quick tax credits laying aside any substance or mere logic in regards to the screenplay. Cuba Gooding Jr. continues his downward slide which is a shame as even with his overrated signature performance, he’s still a decent actor, though probably more suitable in a supporting role and certainly not in the action hero part.
Absolute Deception (2013)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Action, Suspense/Thriller
Sony | R – 92 min. – $22.99 | June 11, 2013
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Writer(s): Jeffrey Schenck & Peter Sullivan (story), Kraig Wenman (screenplay)
Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Emmanuelle Vaugier
DISC INFO:
Features: UltraViolet Digital Copy
Number of Discs: 1
Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Subtitles: English SDH
Region(s): 1
THE MOVIE – 1.75/5
It’s been official for a while, but Cuba Gooding Jr. has joined the ranks of Steven Segal, Jean-Claude Van Damm and Wesley Snipes: Direct-to-Video hell and oh, it’s quite warm there… scorching warm.
Absolute Deception centers on FBI Agent Nelson (CUBA GOODING JR.) who, working in Australia, has lost a key witness that was to turn over state’s evidence on an embezzlement scheme run by all around corporate asshole Osterberg (CHRIS BETTS). His body was likely dumped in the ocean and only left behind a pinky finger which, when running the print, pointed back to another name and driver’s license in New York City. Traveling to the Big Apple, Nelson meets Rebecca (EMMANUELLE VAUGIER) who is shocked to learn that this witness was her husband… who had supposedly perished in an automobile accident the body scorched beyond recognition; no doubt the body came from another crap DTV film.
Nelson goes back to Australia not learning any new information, but being a pesky investigative journalist, Rebecca follows to do her own investigation and find out who her husband really was and attempts to unravel why he was murdered. Of course, Nelson knows she’s there and despite many suggestions to leave, she remains on the case to the point where Nelson allows her to tag along. Helping her case is that somebody wants her dead attempting to kill her on more than one occasion.
Separately and together, the investigation leads to the man’s involvement with stealing millions from Osterberg, the murder of another person involved with the conspiracy and some standard car chase scenes.
First things first, this is a generic movie all around. The acting is, at best, pedestrian with both Cuba Gooding Jr. 
(Oscar winner, mind you) and Emmanuelle Vaugier both sleepwalking through their performances and a cast of supporting actors who more or less are fillers rather than worthy foils, not that the fight chorography was any good. Now 14 years removed from Jerry Maguire, Gooding Jr. makes his living working on one general direct-to-video movie after another and while not all of them are duds, the screenplays are understandable substandard and his characters forgettable and all too common. That being said, and perhaps the ONLY saving grace (albeit a minor one), both Gooding Jr. and Vaugier possess at least an iota of charisma, though even the best actors can’t overcome stilted and laughable dialogue.
Absolute Deception was directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith whose made a career in the B-movie market from Leprechaun 4 & 5 and In Her Line of Fire. I can sympathize with the lack of a budget but nothing about this film was very thrilling. I also should mention getting a story by credit are Jeffrey Schenck & Peter Sullivan and if you don’t know their names… I wouldn’t be shocked. Both have worked almost entirely on TV movies including the 2010 dull thriller, Abandoned which I also had the (dis)pleasure of watching and reviewing.
In the end, Absolute Deception is yet another all-too-predictable action-er with a bad screenplay, complete with stilted/cringe-worthy dialogue, generic direction, laughable visual effects (on par on what was on “Smallville”) and performances which bordered on lazy. It’s not a terrible movie but it is barely watchable. Oh, and a minor point, but the opening credits looked like they done on MS Paint Pro…
SPECIAL FEATURES – 0/5
Outside of a download code for UltraViolet Digital Copy and some previews (Breakout, Dead Man Down, The Call, Evil Dead), there were no features included.
VIDEO – 3.5/5
Released onto home video by Sony, Absolute Deception is presented with a 1.78 anamorphic widescreen transfer and is relatively pristine but thanks to the amateurish quality, it’s not exactly the best looking. Still, it’s a suitable picture for the type of movie it is.
AUDIO – 3.5/5
The Dolby Digital 5.1 isn’t spectacular yet serviceable enough with clear dialogue coming from the center speaker and good use of the front and rear channels when there is action or simple ambient noise (chirping birds, side chatter, etc.).
OVERALL – 1.0/5
Absolute Deception is your typical run-of-the-mill, unrealistic and uber-predictable thriller that it really has nothing to offer. I suspect it was made for some quick tax credits laying aside any substance or mere logic in regards to the screenplay. Cuba Gooding Jr. continues his downward slide which is a shame as even with his overrated signature performance, he’s still a decent actor, though probably more suitable in a supporting role and certainly not in the action hero part.
Brian Oliver, The Movieman
Published: 06/30/2013