Review of The Double (2014) by Dillinger P — 27 Aug 2014

The double firmly puts Richard Ayoade one step closer to being one of cinemas most invigorating directors. After the gem that was Submarine, hes now back with a bigger and bolder cast. a wider vision and hes out to pay homage to just about every cinema great there ever was.

The Double riffs on Hitchcock, Lynch, Wes Anderson, to name a few but its done clearly in Ayoade style he even manages to pull riffing off his own works entertaining and visually invigorating. Simon is a nobody, in the eyes of the world, his mother is dying, he lives in a dingy flat and as far as bad days go? Well his would trump them all.

However after falling for a photocopier called Hannah, who shares similar traits to him, he makes an attempt to finally come out of his shell. Just when you thought things couldnt get any worse, his Doppellganger, James begins to work in the same place, only he is everything Simon isnt.

What ensues treads very familiar territory but its done with such style and talent that it feels fresh and unique. Jesse Eisenberg plays is perfectly as the 2 men, one struggling to be noticed and the other struggling to get his end off.

Mia is also brilliant, her subtlety and beauty add so much to the character, these two young actors are going very far, very soon. The rest of the cast is filled with Cameos, Hardcore fans will notice these nods, while even less familiar faces will still shine, even in short sequences.

The film is fucking gorgeous, it is visually stunning. The lighting is imaginative and exciting. It hits the tone and the feel perfectly. The Steadi-cam shorts mix gorgeously with obscure angles that add a layer of uncomfort, the sound production is balls out fantastic.

Ever nod, every aspect of this film is brilliant, it has violence, suicide, laughter, tension and all within the same sequences, its just brilliant to watch. So why the four stars? Well, yip, you guessed it, the pay off, the finale isnt only slightly bambooziling but it becomes very like another film done by Fincher in his earlier days.

The message is clear and simple but the execution of the finale is just so sporatic and head scratching you cant help but feel left deflated by it. It's a wonderful ride even during this point however, making Ayoade a force to keep an eye on.