The Devil’s Double [2011]

There are many ways to describe Uday Hussein, Saddam Hussein’s oldest son. But I’ll say only this:  he’s a nut-case. It’s a killer role for Dominic Cooper, who plays both Uday and Latif Yahia, his body double. Yahia is thrust into Uday’s world. This is a world filled with rape, torture, murder, drugs, sex and money. It’s a breakthrough performance for Cooper, a terrific actor getting the chance to show his true colors. We watch as Uday preys upon young girls walking home from school. We watch as he guts his father’s best friend at a party. We watch Yahia struggle with the lifestyle he is forced to live. Hell we even get to see real footage of the war against Kuwait in 1991. The atmosphere resembles the Uganda of “The Last King of Scotland,” where a young doctor was allowed into 1970’s dictator Idi Amin’s inner sanctum. The movie is entirely gripping, terrifying at times, but not everything is based on fact. Director Lee Tamahori and writer Michael Thomas make it clear they’ve fictionalized a great deal. No worries, the movie is still incredibly entertaining, especially if you enjoy thought provoking stories and powerful acting. Let’s face it: we all do. Cooper is certainly more effective as Uday than as Latif. If you only know him so far for his somewhat slight supporting roles, then be prepared to be blown away. This is one of the finest acting tours de force you will see this year. “The Devil’s Double” is not to be missed.

Rating: 3/4