The Double (15)

Directed by Richard Ayoade
Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool
From 4th April 2014

Reviewed by Colin Serjent

This is the latest in a long line of films adapted from the writings of Dostoyevsky - some great, some bad, some ok. This falls into the latter category.

Although called The Double it is only beyond the halfway point of the movie that the double of Simon James (Jesse Eisenberg) called, almost inevitably James Simon, surprise, surprise, also played by Eisenberg, appears.

The novelty value when this occurred soon wore thin. Guess what, the double is the complete opposite of the original character. One is withdrawn, predictable, ill at ease when in the company of women, with the highlight of his life spying through a telescope on a work colleague Hannah (a butter would not melt in her mouth looking Mia Wasikowska) from his flat in a tower block building, where people occasionally throw themselves to their death.

On the other hand his replica or doppelganger, who looks exactly like him and wears a similar baggy grey suit but acts completely differently, being outgoing, hot with women, and is admired by his workmates, especially the office boss.

So what is Ayoade) (Submarine) driving at at with this creation? You could conjure up deep philosophical questions about the human psyche - who am I, why do people react to me the way I am, should I change my persona to become more popular or to get on in life.

I just enjoyed it as a bittersweet interpretation on the way we interact, or try to, with others around us.

One of the funniest moments occurred when the shy one, while sitting in an empty railway carriage, was approached by a stranger and was told that he was sitting in his seat. Loved it.

Printer friendly page

Sorry Comments Closed