A man whose career has seen him span the comedy realms of television,
before setting out on his own directorial quest with the wonderfully
quirky Submarine, Richard Ayoade cuts an
unforgettable figure. His light-hearted style and striking persona make
him one of the most interesting up-and-coming British directors out
there, and things only get more intriguing with his latest release, The Double.
From
the very first scene of Ayoade's second directorial feature we have the
perfect set-up for our main character in question. Hard up in life and
devilishly short of luck, Simon (Jesse Eisenberg) is
sitting in his seat on a subway train that contains just one other
person. With the remainder of the seats empty, the other individual
orders him to move from his seat stating 'that seat is mine'.
Consequently, Simon is forced to move and relinquish his seat despite no
other seats being taken up.
It's a perfect introduction to a
character who simply cannot catch a break. Living alone and finding
himself the subject of ignorance at work, Simon is a shy and reserved
individual who feels like a ghost to those around him. Trying to pluck
up the courage to ask out colleague Hannah (Mia Wasikowska),
he soon finds that life is about to get a lot tougher as his very own
doppelganger James (also Eisenberg, obviously!) arrives on the scene.
The problem is; James is confident and outspoken, leaving Simon even
more forgotten by those around him.
Cut from the same cloth as Garth Marenghi's Darkplace,
The Double is a darkly funny return for Ayoade behind the camera and a
far cry from his debut, Submarine. Presented in an alternate world it
seems, the director is intent in getting into your mind and sticking in
there for some time after, with dimly-let sets and laughs aplenty to
keep the ball rolling. Such is Ayoade's style, that as soon as you let
out a laugh you instantly feel almost guilty, as it twists and turns
once again into a dark void that is certainly harrowing and unsettling
at times.
At the heart of the film is a truly commendable
performance from the brilliant Jesse Eisenberg. Any actor who can adapt
his range to not only play a rather shy and reserved character that
leads the way, but also play his polar opposite, is worthy of praise,
and Eisenberg certainly nails it. Presenting one man whose downward
spiral called life just goes from bad to worse, Eisenberg instantly
catches the eye as he bumbles through subway journeys, finds awkwardness
in a lift, and struggles to maintain a conversation with the girl he
likes. It's all done superbly, and when it comes to him letting go as
counterpart James, the results are fantastic.
As well as
Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska flexes her acting muscles yet again as she
continues her fine form as one of the most impressive young actresses in
the business. Initially a sweet-faced and innocent individual,
Wasikowska soon descends into something different as Ayoade's penchant
for turning slightly grim and plunging proceedings into the shadows
rears its head. She is simply great, as too are the almost obligatory
cameo appearances. Paddy Considine's 80s television sci-fi star is tremendous fun as he wields a laser gun and fights off enemies. While Chris O'Dowd's frantic medical advisor brings the craziness to one scene.
Richard
Ayoade certainly possesses a wealth of directing talent and brings the
majority of it to the plate with The Double. With a commanding blend of
comedy and darkness, it may not fit with everyone, but for me personally
it ticked all the boxes. Vigilant and impressive turns from both
Eisenberg and Wasikowska, as well as a constant high level of directing,
coupled with superb sound editing, make The Double one dark treat worth
shining a light on.
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