Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Devil's Double



Don't Miss Domenic Cooper's Brilliant Performance!
THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE is a surprise film - a film that is not only informative in that it is based on a true story, but it is also an examination of the corruption of Saddam Hussein's (Philip Quast) control of Iraq, AND it also happens to display one of the finest acting performances by a male actor this year. Dominic Cooper is doubly exceptional playing both the man from whom the story was obtained - Latif Yahia - as well as the 'Black Devil' Uday Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein's despicably rotten, psychopathic, drug addicted, Lothario and brutal murderer oldest son.

There is a term 'fiday' which means body double. According to encyclopedic sources `Uday Saddam Hussein is known to have used a body double named Latif Yahia. Being from a well-off family, Yahia was sent to the best school in Iraq, and it was at one of those that he first crossed paths with Uday. Even then, his resemblance to Uday was something that was apparent as Yahia's classmates would point out. Years later,...

One Of The Best Films Of 2011
There are many ways to describe Uday Hussein, Saddam Hussein's oldest son. None of them are positive.

The Devil's Double is a "take no prisoners" film that's as hard to watch as it is entertaining. It follows Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper), an Iraqi soldier from an upper class family, who is plucked from the war to act as Uday's double. Uday (also played by Cooper), remembers the comparisons the two would get when they jointly attended grade school. He asks Yahia to be his double - for both political and personal reasons. Like his father, Uday is in a constant state of worry over an assassination attempt. Further, he wants to send Yahia on personal trips that he himself doesn't wish to attend. Yahia, kind and warm, refuses, but is forced to with the threat of harm to his family. Yahia is given cosmetic surgery and dentures to complete the look.

Yahia is thrust into Uday's world. This is a world filled with rape, torture, murder, drugs, sex and money. The lifestyle...

The best film in years
We were fortunate to see THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE in Chicago in August. It is an amazing, well acted/made/written film. Every actor is excellent. Dominic Cooper is a wonder. He should receive the best actor Oscar for 2011.

The film is highly realistic and very violent, not for kids or for the faint of heart. This is truly a crafted film, a piece of art encompassing an incredible amount of creativity.

Not only is this the best film of 2011, it is the best film in years. (a quick caveat--Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts I and II are also excellent films.)

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