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Based on a gripping, unbelievable true story of money, power and opulent decadence, The Devil's Double takes a white-knuckle ride deep into the lawless playground of excess and violence known as Baghdad, 1987.
Summoned from the frontline to Saddam Hussein's palace, Iraqi army lieutenant Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper) is thrust into the highest echelons of the "royal family" when he’s ordered to become the ‘fiday’ – or body double – to Saddam's son, the notorious "Black Prince" Uday Hussein (also Dominic Cooper), a reckless, sadistic party-boy with a rabid hunger for sex and brutality. With his and his family’s lives at stake, Latif must surrender his former self forever as he learns to walk, talk and act like Uday. But nothing could have prepared him for the horror of the Black Prince’s psychotic, drug-addled life of fast cars, easy women and impulsive violence. With one wrong move costing him his life, Latif forges an intimate bond with Sarrab (Ludivine Sagnier), Uday's seductive mistress who’s haunted by her own secrets. But as war looms with Kuwait and Uday’s depraved gangster regime threatens to destroy them all, Latif realises that escape from the devil‘s den will only come at the highest possible cost.
Featuring a riveting double performance by Dominic Cooper (An Education, Mamma Mia) in the roles of Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein, The Devil's Double is a dynamic, chilling adaptation of Latif Yahia’s autobiographical novel, charting one man’s defiant struggle to survive a viper's pit of corruption and brutality. The film is directed by Lee Tamahori (Die Another Day, XXX: State of the Union) and written by Michael Thomas (Backbeat, Scandal).
Summoned from the frontline to Saddam Hussein's palace, Iraqi army lieutenant Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper) is thrust into the highest echelons of the "royal family" when he’s ordered to become the ‘fiday’ – or body double – to Saddam's son, the notorious "Black Prince" Uday Hussein (also Dominic Cooper), a reckless, sadistic party-boy with a rabid hunger for sex and brutality. With his and his family’s lives at stake, Latif must surrender his former self forever as he learns to walk, talk and act like Uday. But nothing could have prepared him for the horror of the Black Prince’s psychotic, drug-addled life of fast cars, easy women and impulsive violence. With one wrong move costing him his life, Latif forges an intimate bond with Sarrab (Ludivine Sagnier), Uday's seductive mistress who’s haunted by her own secrets. But as war looms with Kuwait and Uday’s depraved gangster regime threatens to destroy them all, Latif realises that escape from the devil‘s den will only come at the highest possible cost.
Featuring a riveting double performance by Dominic Cooper (An Education, Mamma Mia) in the roles of Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein, The Devil's Double is a dynamic, chilling adaptation of Latif Yahia’s autobiographical novel, charting one man’s defiant struggle to survive a viper's pit of corruption and brutality. The film is directed by Lee Tamahori (Die Another Day, XXX: State of the Union) and written by Michael Thomas (Backbeat, Scandal).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Devil's Double is the story of the fedai (body double) of Udai Hussein. Set in the late 80's to early 90's - Latif (Dominic Cooper - The History Boys) is chosen as the best and coerced into a life of living as Udai's brother. Surrounded by the extravagant palaces and trappings of wealth afforded to Udai, he sees the sickening hypocrisy in the dictator's oil-rich Iraq as Udai parties with prostitutes and dabbles in drink & drugs. He has an unbelievable air of entitlement; as he snatches schoolgirls off the street to have his way with and makes his double, Latif, deal with the unpleasant side of compensating & placating the parents of his victims... Will Latif ever manage to escape this life of servitude?
The Devil's Double is an extremely interesting film that is quite unlike anything being released at the moment. It's portrayal of Udai is questionable but questionable veracity aside; Cooper's performance is fantastic as he alternates between the highly-strung playboy Udai and the more tolerant & benevolent Latif with seeming ease. The CGI is decent, with only a couple of scenes with the both of them on screen being dubious. Cooper is supported by a worthy cast, including the love interest Sarrab (played by Ludivine Sagnier) and the picturesque surrounds of Baghdad make an eye-meltingly beautiful setting.
Extras: Includes an audio commentary with director Lee Tamahori and 3 featurettes True Crime Family, Double Down with Dominic Cooper & The Real Devil's Double. The star of which is the last one, where we actually get to meet the man the story is based on.
In conclusion, a fantastic film set in the middle-east about truly unique subject material. Feels a little short on story at one or two points, but most definitely worthy of your time!
The Devil's Double is an extremely interesting film that is quite unlike anything being released at the moment. It's portrayal of Udai is questionable but questionable veracity aside; Cooper's performance is fantastic as he alternates between the highly-strung playboy Udai and the more tolerant & benevolent Latif with seeming ease. The CGI is decent, with only a couple of scenes with the both of them on screen being dubious. Cooper is supported by a worthy cast, including the love interest Sarrab (played by Ludivine Sagnier) and the picturesque surrounds of Baghdad make an eye-meltingly beautiful setting.
Extras: Includes an audio commentary with director Lee Tamahori and 3 featurettes True Crime Family, Double Down with Dominic Cooper & The Real Devil's Double. The star of which is the last one, where we actually get to meet the man the story is based on.
In conclusion, a fantastic film set in the middle-east about truly unique subject material. Feels a little short on story at one or two points, but most definitely worthy of your time!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Well, watching this film even if you aren't 100% enjoying the experience you are never in doubt one man certainly did - Dominic Cooper. He goes to town with his performance of Uday, the campest most over the top villain to be found outside of panto - a hyperactive megalomaniac, buck of tooth and gelled forward of hair (...Dwayne Dibbley?!), a mamma's boy prone to sadism and perversion who disturbingly giggles like a schoolgirl (though most schoolgirls soon stop giggling in the presence of Uday).
This performance makes the movie and highlights the obvious problem, when Uday is off screen things get a little pedestrian by comparison. The love story between Latif (the double) and one of Uday's mistresses never ignites and their bolt for freedom, which should have been the most tense and exhilarating section of the film, is actually rather dull and even the attempted hit at the very end of the movie doesn't quite carry the required gravitas. These scenes struggle to compete with the hedonistic parties, beatings, disembowelments and psychological warfare that make up the bread and butter of Uday's insane existence.
Worth a watch thanks to Cooper's stellar efforts playing the two lead characters but take `The Devil's Double' with a huge pinch of salt, a lot of artistic license has been applied here, and thanks to the less than ideal pacing be prepared for your interest to go off radar like a rogue Scud from time to time.
This performance makes the movie and highlights the obvious problem, when Uday is off screen things get a little pedestrian by comparison. The love story between Latif (the double) and one of Uday's mistresses never ignites and their bolt for freedom, which should have been the most tense and exhilarating section of the film, is actually rather dull and even the attempted hit at the very end of the movie doesn't quite carry the required gravitas. These scenes struggle to compete with the hedonistic parties, beatings, disembowelments and psychological warfare that make up the bread and butter of Uday's insane existence.
Worth a watch thanks to Cooper's stellar efforts playing the two lead characters but take `The Devil's Double' with a huge pinch of salt, a lot of artistic license has been applied here, and thanks to the less than ideal pacing be prepared for your interest to go off radar like a rogue Scud from time to time.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Simon Cooper's acting is exemplary and the quality of the film production overall is very good. However, this is a gory tale of a particularly nasty psychopath and I found the film exploitative and purposeless. I felt sick in parts and question how it could be seen as entertainment, however well made it was.
It is for this reason that I found it so disappointing, as real life stories have the potential to be fascinating to watch and informative. Neither am I against portrayals of violence or cruelty per se, but there are limits and for me this film crossed them.
It is for this reason that I found it so disappointing, as real life stories have the potential to be fascinating to watch and informative. Neither am I against portrayals of violence or cruelty per se, but there are limits and for me this film crossed them.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
good service
i bought this for my other halfs birthday. I was very pleased at how quickly it arrived as i left it very last minute to order and the estimated delivery date was after his... Read more
Published 4 hours ago by heather
I know this man
I think this film is disturbing and unpleasant. It reminds me somewhat of the disturbing character in Sin City. There are some doubts to whether all of this story is true. Read more
Published 27 days ago by words with wonder
"..BRILLIANT MOVIE.."
This is a very unique and interesting film based on the true story of the man Latif forced to be a double for Saddam Husseins son Uday during the 80s, a very gritty and real look... Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. Drury
Disappointed
Despite having a state of the art blu ray player the blinking thing does not work in it!!!! Will not load, has anyone else had these problems?
Published 1 month ago by Ms Jayne Garnett
Double Trouble!!
Dominic Cooper does for this film what Val Kilmer did for The Doors, what Forest Whitaker did for the Last King of Scotland and what Jamie Foxx did for Ray. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Darcy
A flashy and debauched films that's just for fun, not facts
A lot of negative reactions about this film might have overlooked the message that the marketing is trying to portray: - this is intended to be a fantasy depiction of Uday Hussein... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Benminx
Devil's Double
Top film, saw it at the cinema.... Its even better on Blu-Ray! It' is a must have for any film collection.
Published 3 months ago by Charlie Barsby
Not enough of a story to make a film.
This film doesn't deserve the praise it has received as it is rather overlong and not a particularly interesting tale. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jase W
excellent
I have just watched this film and felt compelled to write a review.I thoroughly enjoyed it,the story is fast paced and held my interest throughout. Read more
Published 4 months ago by miss marple
Underwhelming
A couple of friends had told me that they really enjoyed this movie thanks to Dominic Cooper's performance but at times, I was wondering if they were watching the same film as me. Read more
Published 4 months ago by BPR
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