Majorthebys
Charming and brutal
Anoushka Slater
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Brenda
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
sol-
Based on the true story of an Iraqi soldier forced to become a body double for Saddam Hussein's son during the late 1980s, 'The Devil's Double' is a sobering look at a man forced to look on in a world where absolute power corrupts absolutely. As he watches Saddam's son commit increasingly violent atrocities, he soon finds it hard to just sit idly by and the film is capped off by a gripping final twenty minutes of catharsis along these lines. Candid an insight as the film provides, it is a tad uneven. More focus on the soldier's loss of identity may have helped, but the biggest issue is the casting of Dominic Cooper in both roles. It is an impressive performance in that whenever he opens his mouth, it feels as if we are watching two very different persons. The fact that both look identical though makes it hard to keep track of who is who (at least until Cooper talks). This is somewhat fitting given how often the supporting characters confuse the pair, but it also makes it a tad hard to get emotionally invested with only ever scattered opportunities to get under the soldier's skin. As alluded to though, the proceedings culminate in some highly memorable moments and the film shows the son's cruelty in admirably graphic ways. This might not be the most pleasant film to watch, but it is frequently gripping even if one does sometimes confuse just which character Cooper is at times.
Reno Rangan
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
begob
How dumb am I #1: I waited for the credits to find out who played Uday - great performance. Then I saw it was the same actor as Latif. OMG! Amazing.How dumb am I #2: I thought this was a true story, so in the final scenes in Malta and the bazaar I was thinking "unlikely, but such is life".It's a good thriller and character study. Uday is like Caligula, but Latif is a bit dull. The girlfriend seemed a bit random, especially in the end. And the sex and violence should have been more explicit - instead it's quite tasteful.Loved the music all the way through.Overall I think this is a bit simple, because it should have had more interesting things to say on identity and used the doubleness to explore the story.
LeeRob7
Slued, crude and rude, this movie adaption of a disturbing true story delivers in many, many ways. The filmmakers pull no punches in this raw and ruthless depiction of Uday Hussain looking from the perspective of Latif Yahia, Uday's enforced body double. This story captures Latif's shocking life and experiences whilst living alongside psychotic, sociopathic Uday in Baghdad, Iraq whilst ruled by Uday's father Saddam Hussain in 1987. Showing how mega riches, fame and ultimate power can not satisfy the crazed son of a equally celebrated and hated ruler/dictator, this movie is a thrilling masterpiece that will keep you gripped from start to finish! Original, jaw-dropping and truly fascinating, 9/10.
