Director: Richard Ayoade
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn, Noah Taylor, James Fox, Phyllis Somerville,
Running Time: 89 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Making Of, Deleted Scenes, Extended Scenes, Trailers
Comical darling Richard Ayode returns with his second film as director. Those familiar with the man’s television work and appearances, rather than his directorial debut SUBMARINE, will probably be surprised at how Ayoade has split his career. Gone is the hilarity and bonkers humour or his awkward performances and in its place is a darker more satirical tone. THE DOUBLE comes across as an artist intent on hammering home his artistic sensibilities without ever coming across as misguided or self-indulgent.
Eisenberg takes on dual roles as both a lowly office worker and his successful and confident doppelganger. Interestingly enough, it is only Eisenberg’s Simon who realises the similarity at first. This is never played for hearty laughs, nor is much of the film, and instead we are treated to sly character moments enthused with both awkwardness and surrealism. Ayoade does a great job at making us accept the events portrayed in the film, mostly due to how the world is created.
Throughout the entire film nothing is for certain. We’re never entirely clear on what Simon’s job is or how the government functions. Everyone seems to ask weird questions, which can get tiring at points, but this is a BRAZIL inspired world which serves the point of the message. It’s easy to ascertain from the title that elements of duality and existence are going to come into play and for the most part it unravels as expected. A friendship turns into a relationship of power, which turns darker as it’s obvious the two cannot co-exist. It’s this predictability that harms the enjoyment of the film, which does well towards the end to leave some ambiguous moments.
Beautifully crafted with a German expressionism approach to set design and lighting, while the humour skirts around the style of Hal Ashby, Ayoade has no shame in making his influences clear. THE DOUBLE is quite original enough to appease those looking for somethign different, nor is it accessible enough to recommend for any time, any place. However, it should provide a decent mix of feelings, emotions, and discussions.
[usr=3] THE DOUBLE is out now on DVD and Blu-ray.
