The Devil's Double (Lee Tamahori, 2011)

I like to see a lot of indie films, particularly when what the studios give you is horrifically poor. The problem with indie films is that sometimes you get standard fare but occasionally you get something special. With The Devil's Double (Lee Tamahori, 2011) you get a film that hits somewhere in the middle of this two barometers. The portrayal of Uday/Latif by Dominic Cooper is outstanding and the psychotic mind and decadent world of the Husseins leaves you speechless. Unfortunately they are weighed down by an often confusing narrative (particularly when Latif is playing Uday) and it seems that when it comes time for that payoff it never materializes. Finally there is one tremendous revelation.

When it comes to revelations there are three within this film. The first is the excellent portrayal of Latif/Uday by Dominic Cooper. As Latif he has a brooding hero down cold, a man torn between family, love of country and a psychotic madman. If this were his only role it could be considered a good one. It is the portrayal of Uday that sets what Cooper does apart. There are times when Cooper plays Uday as cold, psychotic, deadly. The tension rises when Uday is on the screen. But what makes the portrayal remarkable is that with all that simmering capability for violence there is a sad quality that Cooper brings to Uday. There are times when you almost feel that Uday is a monster to be pitied. He is at times, likable. It would be easy to see how such a man, in real life, would attract people to his fold.

But such a man is extremely dangerous, as he is psychotic and deadly and runs around a country which is his personal playground with no consequences to any of his actions. I'm still not sure which is more shocking to me, the levels of depravity that Uday simmered in or the decadence in which he lived. Much of the problem for this lies in American media's portrayal of life in the middle east. Because we are presented such a limited view of what life is like there, when we see something completely different it is shocking. I guess the maxim "absolute power corrupts absolutely" rings especially true with despotic dictators.

The only major problem I had with the film is a seemingly roundabout narrative that doesn't seem to be complete. There always exists the threat of death when Uday is around yet Latif crosses lines many times with no repercussions to himself or his family. And when he runs away with Sharab (Ludivine Sagnier) you think, since he's already had his heart to heart with his father that he's out and free. The twist they throw in just maddens the audience.

The final revelation is Ludivine Sagnier. I maintain that it is grossly unfair that such beautiful and talented actresses abound in the world yet never get used here in the U.S. For example, in the film Kingdom of Heaven (Ridley Scott, 2005) which starred Eve Green, couldn't an actress like Sagnier been used instead? For more authenticity at the very least. Nothing against Eve Green as she is talented too but I rather see casting down with authenticity.

The Devil's Double is good, just not great and maybe that eternal hope I always have is what sours the film for me slightly. Still, see if for the great work by Cooper and for Sagnier!