Review of The Double (2014) by Allen G — 09 Apr 2016

Ayoade managed to bring the laughts, the drama, the flair, and the style to this very-modern Dostoyevsky interpretation. Further, the lead role (or roles!) feels (or feel) as if it was (or they were- I'm stopping this now...) made for Eisenberg who, as his usual kind of paranoid and neurotic self, works brilliantly here when held against his other self- a megalomaniacal narcissist (can you tell that I'm not usually much of a fan?).

I think this film's real strength is the balance that it finds between humour and dark drama as it never full-embraces either side, instead keeping the film's tone right where Ayoade wanted it.

It's a pretty surface-level look at the source material and the film certainly feels overly-theatrical and staged at times, as is common with play adaptations, but neither of these flaws really do much harm to the film itself. Its portrayal of paranoia and its general quirkiness make it unique and worthwhile, and probably a much better film than it would have been had it aimed for a by-the-book look at The Double.

I LOVE YOU MIA WASIKOWSKA.

Sorry, please ignore that part/.

*ahem*.

As you were.