Review of The Devil's Double (2011) by Tina A — 01 Dec 2011

A riveting, stomach churning account of the experiences of Latif Yahia (Cooper) who worked as a body double to Uday Hussein (Cooper again), the film is based on his book by the same name. Set during the period between the Iran-Iran War and the First Gulf war, the film opens with Yahia, a lieutenant in the Iraq army and former school mate of Uday Hussein being recruited as a "fidayen" for him.

With the assistance of cosmetic surgery/prosthetics and some training Yahia is made to be a perfect double for Hussein and begins carrying out his duties for him. Yahia now stands witness to the psychotic world of Hussein which is laden with violence, sex and drugs.

Though repulsed by all this Yahia can barely protest as invoking the anger of Hussein would mean certain harm to his family. Though most of the accounts portrayed in the movie are true one doesn't sense a docu-drama feel to it but more that of a gangster thriller which seems to have been the intention of director Lee Tamahori.

Everything about the film is grandiose, right from the palatial sets, the shimmering wardrobes, the expensive cars, the gold plated watches, guns and to top it all a maniacal performance by Cooper who just completely owns the film appearing in just about every frame.

Cooper relishes his first opportunity at a leading role - two at that - as both Uday Hussein and Latif Yahia. If his restrained smouldering turn as Yahia appears very mature, his psychotic depiction of Hussein is just outright over the top and rightly so considering the character he plays.

Though certainly not for the faint hearted, the film not only offers an insight in to the world of the Husseins but does so with the feel of a suspense thriller.