Review of The Devil's Double (2011) by Garrett R — 17 Feb 2012

THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE, is an electrifying, invigorating and very horrifying semi-truth, semi-fictionalization of the tale of Latif Yahia, the body/personality double of the "Black Prince", Uday Hussein. Chosen against his will and forced to serve Uday or having his family killed instead, Latif lives alongside as well as fulfills Uday's bidding as The Devil's Double.

Directed by Lee Tamahori (who directed DIE ANOTHER DAY, way back when in 2002) from a script by Michael Thomas based on Latif Yahia's story, THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE injects kinetic energy into your system and transports you back to the time of 1987, when the conflict in Kuwait was raging and when Suddam Hussein's reign over Baghdad, Iraq gave his own family a silver and golden lining when it gave the rest of the city, and its families, underlying misery and death. Much of this can be attributed to Uday, whose violent outbursts and dangerous, almost bi-polar mood swings were as unpredictable as his good moods. As one character states of Uday's character very starkly, "Uday is a child. One day he will tire of you and be rid of you.".

The story of THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE is undeniably rich and carries richly thematic themes of honor, family, power, corruption, love, loss, and betrayal. Latif's journey from Latif to Uday's impersonator is nothing but exhilirating and eye-opening. To see how Uday methodically controls and manipulates his behavior for everyone else to abide by his word and his way, especially Latif, is downright chilling.

Latif, on the other hand, does not lose his morality or his sense of right and wrong (for which the Black Prince left behind and blurred, snorted and shot away a long time ago) as his body is transformed and his persona changed to fit those of Uday's. Uday thinks everything will go his way ("as God wills it, he says) but he IS wrong...

Where Latif's story takes him is told very effectively through Michael Thomas's script. Lots of quick cuts, short pans and effective use of close-ups are executed precisely by director Lee Tamahori. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and believably realistic at the same time, with thematic use of gold bathing Suddam's palace and the hot colors encompassing the city of Baghdad and its residents; contrasted with the monochrome blue-ish gray tones of certain scenes and little-to-no filters on others serves Latif's tale in a formidable fashion. As does the editing and lightning pace.

Every performance in THE DEVIL's DOUBLE is realistically credible, but the real honor and due credit needs to go to Dominic Cooper as both Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein, pulling off a feat of acting prowess I haven't seen since the utter transformation and awestruck sense of incredulity I felt when I saw Heath Ledger's performance unfold four years ago onscreen. Cooper's dual performance is, without a doubt, on par with Ledger's legendary performance from TDK.

While THE DEVIL's DOUBLE is semi-true and also semi-fictionalized, there is no denying the kinetic energy and cinematic power that Latif's story is infused with. Those attributes, as well as the aforementioned richly thematic themes and Dominic Cooper's feat of dual acting prowess are guaranteed that for those who see THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE, will not soon forget it.