The Devil's Double (2011)

The greatest movie ever made..!

Sadly Over-hyped

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Based on an (allegedly) true story, Lee Tamahori's "The Devils Double" is a slick and stylish production, featuring an well crafted dual performance by Dominic Cooper, portraying both Uday: the sociopathic, hedonistic son of Saddam Hussein, and as Latif Yahia: the Iraqi soldier forced to become his body double. The film, however, feels like something of a missed opportunity, and that the end result, whist an entertaining film, is somewhat less than the sum of its parts and feels like merely a good film, rather than the potentially great one it could have been.Cooper's performance as Uday and his titular double is undoubtedly the highlight of the film. As Uday, Cooper allows himself to practically devour the scenery, portraying the dictator's son as a nightmarish cross between Caligula and Tony Montana, raping and murdering with selfish aplomb. Cooper clearly has fun as the monstrous Uday, although according to various sources, the real Uday was far more vicious then Cooper's portrayal. This reflects more on the film's style and direction then Cooper himself, as I felt with a more realistic, grittier take on the material; Cooper's performance could have been as iconic as Pacino's. His second role as Latif: increasingly horrified and disgusted with Uday's excesses, is considerably more understated and at times, can feel a little underdeveloped, compared to Uday's flamboyancy. Ultimately, Latif feels more like a stock character, a mob underling in over his head with a psychotic kingpin, rather than the films emotional core.The cast is rounded out by Ludivine Sagnier as Sarrab, Uday's concubine and later Latif's lover, Raad Rawi as Munem, Uday's stoic and long suffering security chief, Mem Ferda as Kamel Hannah, a "twittering little pimp" who insults Uday and pays dearly for it and musical theatre veteran, Philip Quast, as Saddam Hussein, Iraq's dictator and Uday's disapproving father.Out of the supporting cast, Rawi and Quast, are the standouts, with Rawi's body guard, imbued with quiet dignity and subtle authority, clearly fed up with having to look after his psychotic charge and yet unable to do anything about it. One scene, has Latif and Munem discussing Uday's utter insanity, the subtle look on Rawi's face as Latif tells him that "He's a good man in a bad job" sells his characters frustration without saying anything. Quast's Saddam, despite his brief appearances, radiates authority and his scenes, opposite his arrant son, are filled with a deep sense of tension. Sagnier is, however, the weakest link in the supporting cast, playing a typical femme fatale role as Uday's kept woman. Sagnier gives a rather wooden, dispassionate performance and her chemistry with Cooper is lacking.The films slickness and stylish look both help and hinder the films tone. The visual look of the film is slick and glossy, giving it a gaudy, sensationalised appearance. In a way, this helps the film's narrative, given that the majority of the films scene's happen in the luxurious palaces, homes and nightclubs frequented by Uday and his entourage, places considerably different from where the average Iraqi lived, highlighting the extravagant, hedonistic lives that the ruling family lived. On the downside, the gloss makes the film feel like a generic gangster movie which isn't helped by the other genre trappings (The violent sociopath, the femme fatales, the reluctant henchman) the film displays throughout. I think with a grittier, more realistic take on the story (Perhaps similar to Tamahori's 1994 breakout "Once Were Warriors, depicting violence in the Maori community), the film could have been better, but with the films style clashing slightly with the story, the result is the film feeling rather disjointed.Overall, I would say "The Devils Double", whist far from a great movie, is not by default a bad movie either. Cooper's performance as Uday is enjoyable to watch, in the same way Pacino is "enjoyable" in "Scarface, or Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas". The films garnish visual tone, however cheapens the film into feeling like a generic thriller. Ultimately,it is a disappointment that what could have been a gritty, brutal take on one of the vilest and cruellest figures of Saddam's Iraq, is watered down into an entertaining, albeit somewhat forgettable, gangster film.

The film was based on the book of the same name that tells the true story of a young Iraqi man Latif, who was forced to body double the Saddam Hussein's playboy son, Uday. This is the reason I was not interested in this. Usually biopics are made to inspire the viewers, but there are negative films as well and this is one of those. Actually, it was not about the Saddam or his politics or his family, except Uday. So it was told from the perspective of Latif. How he suffered and fought back was the film focused on.After watching it so delay, I think I was wrong about it. The film is for adults, but the thing is it reveals lots of dark secrets of Uday's lifestyle. Sadly the film did not cover much of the Saddam Hussein's events. The Kiwi filmmaker did his best. Dominic Cooper's performance in the dual role was the highlight. That should be the reason to watch this, because you know like me, people are turning it away once they read whose story is this. This film is here to remind us the bad history about the bad people, other than that there's nothing in it.6/10

I got this film for my birthday and I have now seen this film and it is a good solid interesting gangster film. This film sees Saddam Hussein's son who needs a double forcing his double to live his outrageous crazy lifestyle. Now Dominic Cooper plays both young Hussein and latif the man forced to be his double and this performance shows just how good an actor Cooper is. First of all he thrives in the craziness that Hussein is and he makes the character into a crazy some time cartooney character that disturbs you every time you see him on screen. Meanwhile latif is a character who you end up caring about and feel sorry for him as he is put into uncomfortable positions that nobody would want to ever be put in. This film is at its best when it focuses on these two characters and nobody else matters in this film with the film thriving when the conflict happens between the two. The story again is at its best when the conflict is high between the two and focuses on the dynamic between the two characters and how it works. The story does get a point off because it goes off the rails towards the end and focuses on things that aren't important like a predictable love triangle. The script has some dramatic and crazy dialogue but sometimes it goes too far with the craziness and you don't care about what is being said by the characters. The style of the gangster lifestyle is pretty good but sometimes there are just forced violence or nudity and sometimes I think in films like this it is just forced and doesn't feel like it fits for the film. Overall this film is good and enjoyable it doesn't hit the political ideas but it is still a good solid movie to watch if you like gangster films.

The Devil's Double. Based on the book written by a soldier who was forced to become Saddam Hussain's son's double in the times of America - Iraq war over Kuwait. The movie gives you good insight into the spoiled son's lavish and insane life and how his double, our hero never finds himself ready to lead his kind of life. An earthy Dominic Cooper plays both parts effortlessly. As Saddam's son Uday, he makes you hate him and as the double Latif he make you care for him with ease. As a bonus, you get to see Saddam Hussain's character playing some key scenes which leaves you wanting for more. Being based on a real story, however movie gets a bit melodramatic at moments but drama and performances keep you engaged. I am going with good 7 out of 10 for The Devil's Double. Movie never tries to go into the deep of war times but makes an engaging watch over playing a devil's double.