StudioCanal
Director: Richard Ayoade
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jesse Eisenberg, Chris O'Dowd, James Fox
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country of Origin: UK 2013 93 mins.
Released by STUDIOCANAL
Rating:****
Simon James (Jesse Eisenberg) has worked in the same dark and depressing Soviet era style office for years. Timid,insignificant, ignored, unappreciated, directionless, his days are filled with dreams of Hannah (Mia Wasikowska) who shows polite disinterest. He's powerless to change things - directionless. Everything changes with the arrival of James Simon (Jesse Eisenberg) his doppleganger, confident and charismatic, the alpha male who exploits his twin and ingratiates himself with the corporate hierarchy and attracts the attention of Hannah. Based on an idea by Avi Korine with the script co-written by Richard Ayoade and Avi Korin and updated from a Dostoyevsky story, 'The Double' premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival.
StudioCanal
'The Double' is absurdist, timeless, Kafkaesque, sad, funny and weird, eccentric and visually captivating.
References abound the obvious being Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil' but also Aki Karismaki comes to mind. Jesse Eisenberg is perfect in the role(s) capturing a disturbing and distorted world and Chris Morris, Jim Key and Paddy Considine give lovely cameo roles.
A fascinating watch.
Released by STUDIOCANAL 4th April 2014