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Simply Perfect

Fresh and Exciting

Excellent but underrated film

Better Late Then Never

Simon James (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rather pathetic introvert. He is "lonely, lost, and invisible" living in a fictional society that could pass for a set on "Eraser Head." Hanna (Mia Wasikowska) works at the same place as Simon and has similar issues of identity. Then along comes James Simon, an individual who looks identical to Simon James except he has personality. He pole vaults to the top of the corporation without knowing what they do.The film is clearly symbolic and metaphorical, but of what, I am uncertain. One line from the film "giving faceless people immortality" almost seems like a reference to Internet social media such as Facebook. The film is based on a Russian novella by the same name. I have stopped reading Russian novels because there is so much packed into them, they make my head explode.The novella itself doesn't offer an explanation, although three have been offered by critics:1) Main character is insane2) Author is insane3)'The human will in its search for total freedom of expression becomes a self-destructive impulse.'"The film was well done as it captured a mood and allowed the viewer to assign their own significance to it. However, this is clearly not a film for everyone. Those who don't like films with massive amounts of symbolism to the point the linear plot doesn't make any sense, need to avoid this one. Dostoyevsky fans are welcomed. Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity

Pretty much this like serbian movie "Enemy" 1965. ("Neprijatelj")...both based on Dostoyevsky but this one is not my favorite choice

This is that kind of movie in which you need to read impressions more than pay attention on talks and scenes to understand its meaning for real. Richard Ayoade was really smart on the using of colors, dark scenarios contrasting to colored lights accordingly to humors, also, in complicated dialogues among characters. I enjoyed so much. The main characters, which are a double played by Jesse Eisenberg, show us the conflict within a person, the different ways a person can act or react to different situations, and the response other people may answer accordingly personality who acts . Sometimes you realize they are the same person, sometimes you think they are not. The main cast is formed mainly by young people, however, you see many many elderly people in this movie, maybe a reference of judgment and wisdom that old people may do towards the younger, once you remember the place of work, on the movie, is a government agency. Suicide, loneliness, and depression are also subjects in this entire environment. If you like those "easy" films in which signification is clear, you won't enjoy it, however, if you like psychological conflict, and dialogues meaning more than what characters say, you will find it a good movie.

Richard Ayoade's second feature length film, The Double, is a dark comedy based off the original story also titled The Double by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The movie features Jesse Eisenberg as Simon James, an awkward and clumsy office worker in an ambiguous time period who goes throughout his life unnoticed until he meets his doppelganger, James Simon. James is a mirror image of Simon; he is confident and gets exactly what he wants. This film has a dark and uncomfortable feeling with a number of quirky moments sprinkled throughout.Richard Ayoade manages to create a film that is understandable on the surface, but is a complex web underneath when analyzed to a deeper extent. We can see from the moment James is introduced to the story that his goal is to become the better version of Simon, and eventually take complete control over his life. James and Simon get into a number of hilarious situations which is a light in the dark pit that this film feels like at times, though it doesn't take away from the serious themes that are discussed. The theme of loneliness is brought up a lot throughout the entire film, as Simon talks about the feeling of being alone and how that makes him feel connected to his love interest, Hannah, played by Mia Wasikowska. Hannah seems as though she is the only thing that is keeping Simon from going over the edge. Hannah is shown with a blue light on her most of the time which I interpreted as a symbol for some sort of angelic sadness, which I believe is also showing that Hannah is a symbol of peace, hope, and happiness, though they are both trapped in a spiraling sadness. Simon is shown with a green light, which I interpret as him showing his feelings of envy towards James, and how he is taking everything that he thinks he cares about. James is shown with a red light, which I associate with evil and demonic, which I think contrasts well with Hannah's character and her seemingly angelic qualities. James is taking over Simon's life as well, which could signify how the consumption of evil is obscuring Simon's life. James character is known for being a trickster, which I think is pulled off in such a specific way that you are put into Simon's shoes. When we are first introduced to James we are made out to believe that he is a cooler version of Simon, who will end up helping our protagonist achieve what he had been reaching for. We are then tricked by James as he becomes the antagonist in the story, also tricking Simon and beginning to steal every good aspect of his life. This deception however is what causes Simon to develop as a character. He is first portrayed as a meek and somewhat helpless person who had almost no hope of being released from his depressing cycle of a life, but is then forced to be brought into a different light as James interrupts this cycle. He has to learn how to stand his ground as he becomes more cunning in order to defeat his enemy, James. I feel as though Simon develops into the version of James that I was picturing in the beginning of the movie who is able to conquer any problem that comes in his way. The cinematography in this film, which is done by Erik Wilson, seems to be inspired by Wes Anderson, in the fact that there are a lot shots that are made to be straight on in order to make it seem as though it were more of a play than a movie. However, we can see that Richard Ayoade has added his own style which includes a lack of lights, except for one light that is used to illuminate the major character in the shot. As we can see throughout the entire film, there is no sunlight, and it seems as though that it is constantly night time, which is a deliberate choice by Ayoade to show the feeling of sadness, and then the minimal lighting to show an isolating feeling. He also uses this theme of darkness in his previous film Submarine. Another powerful element was the score, which was deliberately made to make you feel uncomfortable and as though it is getting into your head and sending shivers down your spine. It definitely complements the cinematography, with the powerful isolating and depressing feeling.Overall I think that the elements of this movie that were most effective for me was the cinematography and the acting. The cinematography was very powerful in adding to the feeling of Jesse Eisenberg's acting, making you feel as though you are trapped in his depressing and mundane world. I would definitely watch this movie over again, and I am sure that if I did, then I would pick up on another aspect of it that I didn't notice the first time.