{"id":1202,"date":"2011-08-09T20:18:15","date_gmt":"2011-08-09T20:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=1202"},"modified":"2011-08-09T20:18:15","modified_gmt":"2011-08-09T20:18:15","slug":"the-devils-double","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/the-devils-double\/","title":{"rendered":"The Devil’s Double****"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Actor Dominic Cooper<\/a> is best known as the singing and dancing love interest in Mamma Mia<\/em><\/a>, and will be popping up now on people\u2019s radar as Marvel\u2019s scientist Howard Stark in Captain America<\/em><\/a>. But it will be his totally absorbing and alluring dual performance as one of the House of Saddam\u2019s most evil members and his body double (\u2018fiday\u2019) in Lee Tamahori<\/a>\u2019s (Die Another Day<\/em><\/a>) The Devil\u2019s Double<\/em><\/a> that will place him firmly on the map. Cooper is a mesmerising chameleon of talent as \u2018The Black Prince\u2019 Uday Hussein and his unwilling servant Latif Yahia<\/a> in this extraordinary real-life story adaptation, based on Yahia\u2019s 2003 book of the same name, that switches between comic lunacy and terror.<\/p>\n

In 1987, military man Latif Yahia (Cooper), a former classmate of Saddam\u2019s eldest son Uday (also Cooper) with a strikingly similar appearance, is summoned to the Presidential Palace and told that he must become Uday\u2019s body double, making public appearances in the guise of Uday whenever a dangerous situation calls for it. Yahia is forced to give up his identity, and undergo surgery, dental work and speech therapy to make his appearance identical. But the most chilling part of his new existence is having to witness the decadent and extremely sadistic ways of Uday while surviving 11 assassination attempts and hiding his daily disgust and true feelings for Uday\u2019s mistress, Sarrab (Ludivine Sagnier<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The film hinges solely on Cooper\u2019s performance, which shows him in his finest hour as leading man material and his commendable acting range. The details of Yahia\u2019s experiences play out like a chilling gangster film pumped with testosterone that also has a lot of dark humour to it \u2013 Ali G-styled poster aside, simply because of the insanity of Uday\u2019s out-of-control actions. Cooper admitted that both he and Tamahori\u2019s primary concern was distinguishing between Uday and Latif \u2013 something neither needed to worry, and technically, even the eye-lines match most of the time.<\/p>\n

As Latif, Cooper gives a quietly cautious, thoughtful and emotionally turbulent portrayal, realising the man\u2019s inner frustrations and damaging demons as he tries to put on a proud and composed front in the face of adversity, and act the part of a tyrant he despises. The great forbidden love with Sagnier as Sarrab \u2013 herself nicely adding a spark of carefree mischief and joviality to proceedings \u2013 diffuses the anxiety and injects a perilously seductive and passionate element into the story.<\/p>\n

As Uday, Cooper is like a highly volatile, petulant teenager, both pining for his despot father\u2019s approval and loathing his very being for the treatment of him and his beloved mother. Cooper loosely swings back and forth between over-enthusiastic maniac and wounded animal each second on screen, always with a glint of the devil in his eye. The actor admitted that it was only after registering Uday\u2019s feelings of being Saddam\u2019s mistreated black sheep son and his great love for his mother that allowed him to get under the character\u2019s skin to play him. Cooper\u2019s personal struggle and determination to keep both characters separate is reflected in his meticulous portrayal of both.<\/p>\n

Tamahori reels us into the lavish playboy lifestyle of the Husseins, like an 80s yuppie world full of flash cars, exclusive resorts, partying, drugs and beautiful women, while always keeping the tension brewing to allow things to ignite and explode at any moment, and keep us guessing the next step. There is a rich quality to the set design and over-saturation to the cinematography, deliberately reflecting the corruption and opulence of affairs, and a sense of urgency when needed created by the snappy editing process. In the horrifying moments the colour palette changes from a warm gold to a deathly chilling pale blue that works like an icy shot to the veins and poignant reminder of all those who needlessly perished at the hands of the Black Prince. The content of some scenes will sicken viewers, even though events have been played down, but the brutality is kept for full effect.<\/p>\n

For those who remember the 80s first time around, there is also a cracking soundtrack, including the title music of Depeche Mode\u2019s Personal Jesus<\/em> to enjoy. Tamahori has chosen the obvious glamour of the gangster genre over a stark, Cin\u00e9ma v\u00e9rit\u00e9 style of a documentary account to remind us that this is an interpretation of a harrowing true story. Nevertheless The Devil\u2019s Double<\/em><\/a><\/em> is an all-together powerful and engaging account of solid acting prowess from Cooper, and both entertaining and distressing at any one time.<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

Follow on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Actor Dominic Cooper is best known as the singing and dancing love interest in Mamma Mia, and will be popping up now on people\u2019s radar as Marvel\u2019s scientist Howard Stark in Captain America. But it will be his totally absorbing and alluring dual performance as one of the House of Saddam\u2019s most evil members and … <\/p>\n

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