MOVIE MONDAYS: THE DOUBLE
Have you ever seen a film that left you wired and more confused than when you decided that was the film you wanted to see at that moment? That is what this film was for me. Last Friday, after a long week at work, I found myself at the cinema deliberating on what cinematic genius my eyes were going to watch that evening. I had seen posters for The Double around town so I thought I'd give it a go and watch something a bit different as it did not seem to be a typical mainstream, rom-com film. And boy I am I glad I did.
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I am so glad I don't do in-depth film reviews as this flew right over my head for some reason haha. At several points throughout the film I thought I had a relatively good understanding of the story; a handle on the metaphors I thought were hidden within each scene. I was delusional. At first I thought I was making things more complex and the answers were pretty simple but then doubt would creep in alongside the story-line as the script segued into another unexpected turn of events that I eventually gave up trying to discover the "deeper meaning" and just watched the weirdly great string of scenes playing before me.
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The Double is about how the life of a guy who deems himself to be quite unexceptional takes a sudden turn as a new employee at his office cause him to lose his hold on reality. Despite the fact that my brain was sadly not as quick on deciphering the lessons embedded within The Double as I would have liked, I can without a doubt say it is a great film. Based on the novella written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Double is a gripping dark comedy whose captivating yet bleak script was written by both Avi Korine (Mr Lonely) and Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd; The Submarine; AD/BC: A Rock Opera) and brought to life under the wonderful direction of Richard Ayoade. And, in my ever-so-humble opinion, the cast for this project were a talented bunch. I particularly liked Jesse Eisneberg's (Now you See Me; The Social Network; Zombieland) performance in this as his role was such a dynamic one that it was great to see how well he can immerse himself into a character making almost impossible to see elements of one character in another. Mia Wasikowska (Stocker; Jane Eyre; Alice In Wonderland) really brought a sense of vulnerability that was neatly packaged within a 'I can take care of myself' attitude to her character which was fascinating to watch. Kobna Holbrook-Smith's (The Cafe; Sirens; Star Stories) character in this film is by far my favourite. I am not sure if it his accents, crazy eyes, lines or overall demeanour that makes him stand out but his character is definitely an interesting one. Wallace Shawn (Gossip Girl; Toy Story; Clueless) - have not seen him in anything in aaaaaages!! - and funny man, Chris O'Dowd (Moone Boy; The IT Crowd; Friends With Kids) also make an appearance in this movie which is a big plus in my books. Their characters only added to my confusion which made me glad I gave up on looking for the hidden meaning in every single scene. I really want to watch this film again!!
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If you are looking to watch something that is a bit dark, filled with intrigue and great acting, artistically shot scenes (Ha! 'What do I know about cinematography?' I hear you ask. All I know is the overall look and feel of the film was good enough me to actually appreciate it and made me even more curious about how films are made) and an interesting plot then this might be one to consider. I know I sure want to watch it again. Maybe my brain was frazzled from a busy few days at work...?
What film has caused you to appreciate the talent that is great film making?
Mo
xx