What do you do if your father is the most powerful man in the country and you have access to an unlimited supply of money? The answer is anything you want! And if your father is Saddam Hussein no one is going to tell you no. That is why in The Devil’s Double, Uday Hussein (Saddam’s oldest son) snatches a young Iraqi soldier off the battlefield and turns him into his own personal body double. And Latif Yahia is not in a position to refuse.
The Devil’s Double, starring Dominic Cooper in a duel role, is the true story of Latif Yahia who was once a childhood acquaintance of Uday Hussein. With a few minor adjustments he became a dead ringer for the despised dictator’s son. Forced to stand in for him at public events Latif was also compelled to follow Uday around like a lap dog watching him perform despicable acts. To his family Latif was declared dead and when he tried to get a message to them that he was still alive, he was beaten and his family was threatened with death. So, trapped in a hellish nightmare, Latif has found himself as the devil’s new play toy.
Watching a sadistic, spoiled, out of control despot is not my idea of having fun, but witnessing Dominic Cooper chew up the scenery as Uday is a treat and something worth watching. Then when you see him play the conflicted, morally outraged and indignant Latif, you understand what a truly fine performance he has given. Playing Uday alone would have been a difficult task, Dominic gives him a manic quality that is over the top psychotic, but he also comes off lonely, insecure, and sympathetic. At times you feel sorry for him.
There are parts of this film that are really hard to watch. Uday was a monster and hurt a lot of people, especially women. But if you can stomach the viciousness of his acts, Dominic’s performance brings us two multi-layered characters and a bit of understanding to a troubling time.
Another fine performance is that of Ludvine Sagnier. She plays Sarrab, another one of Uday’s play toys who puts up with Uday to protect her family. Latif is attracted to her but knows that to touch her would mean certain death. Sarrab is also attracted to him because he is everything that Uday is not.
The rest of the movie is just a framework for three extraordinary performances, two by the same guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dominic Cooper’s name is mentioned around awards time. It is also interesting to think about the practice of using doubles. Saddam had his, so did Bin Laden and I believe Stalin had one too. It makes you wonder if we got the right guy. The Devil’s Double is a provocative film.
Rating:First Run Remember Dominic Cooper at awards time
About Me
- Melanie Wilson
- My Reviewer's Philosophy: I believe that every film has its audience. One man’s Citizen Kane is another man’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre. My purpose is to help you spend your entertainment dollars wisely. A bad review never kept me from going to a film I wanted to see, but a good review will sometimes get me to a film I never considered. As a movie lover I want you to go to the movies. When more people go to the movies, the more movies get made. But, I also believe that if you enjoy the films you see, you naturally will be inclined to go more often. So join me in supporting our film industry by going to a movie today. Hopefully I can steer you towards a good one. See you at the movies. Melanie Wilson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment