By: Scott Jeffrey
In the wake of Saddam Hussien’s death it is rare for most North Americans to get a brief window into what life was like living as a member of the Hussien family during the first gulf war, or in this case, posing as one of them.
The Devils Double is a cinematic retelling of the story of Latif Yahala (Played by Dominic Cooper) an Iraqi soldier fighting in the Iraq-Iran war who is selected to become a fedai or political body double for one of Sadam’s son’s Uday Hussein (Also Played by Cooper).
Latif is tracked down by government officials with increasing security threats to the Hussein family, Uday and Latif attended boarding school together and were always remarked as being very similar in appearance. Latif is quite reluctant to become a fedai as it requires he absolve his identity. Uday is uncompromising and gives him the choice of becoming his fedai or death. This is where we can begin to see evidence of Uday’s brutal insanity.
Latif is forced to undergo plastic surgery and a death notice is sent to his parents. When latif is sent on his first assignment to pose as Uday, an assassination attempt is made and is labelled to be most likely done by a kurd group. Uday is more concerned with laying the blame on Kuwait of whom he suspects of slant drilling in Iraq’s oil fields. With one fell swoop the first gulf war is launched. With Udays voice booming over the army. “The age of the sheikhs is over!”
Uday grows increasingly more insane, taking advantage of young school girls, taking large amounts of cocaine and performing human torture personally while videotaping it. Uday even goes far enough to ask Latif to commit murder on his behalf.
Although he has access to all of Uday’s lavish personal effects, from designer suits to Ferraris, the situation grows terribly volatile with each passing day and he requires a way out. He also becomes infatuated with one of Uday’s personal concubine’s. Deciding to make a run for it he bolts and realises the Hussein family will never let him have peace.
Cooper is absolutely magnificent in this film. He captures the essence of both characters and creates a vast contrast between the two. The audience can grow to feel for Latif and loathe Uday at the same time, which is a sign that Cooper has done his job perfectly. Uday’s delusional nature is played out as he bats Latif around like a mouse, playing a vulnerable drug addicted black sheep and on a military side a strong political leader. With Uday being a very complex character by himself Cooper, is able to keep this up over both roles. Displaying the true desperation and determination to free himself Latif is seen as the conflicted polar opposite of Uday, a truly honourable man. Keeping these complex personalities separate must have been a nightmare.
Although parts of the story seem a bit fictional, this is supposedly the first hand retelling of the events. There is powerful imagery throughout and it certainly brings thought to mind about the true nature of the first gulf war, as well as a behind the scenes look. It seems to drag on at times, but then again it fits more of a biographical form than a drama or action genre. The imagery is violent and the film goes out of its way to depict Uday’s malicious nature with great detail. Prepare for some gore. I myself am not sure if the romantic backstory in the film was added in for effect or part of the real story, if anything it was neither here nor there. Really the main reason to watch the devils double is to see Dominic Cooper in action. It is a remarkable story but I would say the film probably does not do justice to what the real Latif Yahala’s novelistic account would be. I will say, it has prompted me to add it to my reading list and closely watch Mr. Dominic Cooper.
Score: 6/10
Acting: 8/10
Effects/Visual: 6/10
Writing: 6.5/10
Directing: 7/10
Overall: 33.5/50
Take Away Thought: Call me crazy but if they ever make a movie about Queen or involving them. If they need to cast a Freddy Mercury, Dominic Cooper would be your man. Just saying.
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