After years of exile, a mysterious Russian assassin named Cassius returns to murder a U.S. Senator involved in Russian affairs. Retired CIA Agent Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) is recruited back into the Agency to investigate. Of course this surly, dour cop is forced to work with young, smart, inexperienced FBI agent Ben Geary (Topher Grace). Both eventually look past their differences to find the killer and answer the question: Who is Cassius?
If you watch the trailer, you'll see the "twist", which defeats the purpose of having the twist in the film in the first place. Regardless, the twist manages to work itself out nicely upon implementation.
"The Double" is a relatively small-budget film with a duo of big name stars. Richard Gere remains one of the most unappreciated stars in Hollywood (not even being NOMINATED for Chicago? Oh please.) Gere here plays a tough old CIA agent, a role I'd imagine he's played before, and I imagine he will play again. Topher Grace plays the same role he usually plays in his action movies; unexperienced youngun who knows more than he lets on. The gorgeous Odette Yustman plays Grace's tough wife, and Tamar Hassan plays one of the badguys. He has a stock Russian badguy name and speaks in monosyllables.
Script-wise, the film is lacking. The characters are a series of clichés that contribute what you expect to happen next, not what you hope will happen next. More often than not, I shook my head at the imprisoned villain with the scars all over, and the disbelieving, disapproving heads of Gere and Grace's respective jobs. The conclusion has a final twist that doesn't shock anyone.
There is a scene near the beginning of the film with Gere and Martin Sheen, who here plays the Director of the CIA. Both characters have known each other for years. Gere arrives home and is startled to see the Director say something in the darkness, then flick on a light switch and inform Gere of his mission, should he choose to accept it. These two actors are two of Hollywood's best, and here they are in a formulaic thriller, performing in a scene so well-known that they probably didn't even need to read the script. It's so slight that you might not notice, but it makes the rest of the film worth it.
"The Double" is a ploddy, formulaic piece of theatre sustained by two more than able leads and lead on by a somewhat murky script. It's an enjoyable thriller that will keep your attention, but maybe not your interest.
If you watch the trailer, you'll see the "twist", which defeats the purpose of having the twist in the film in the first place. Regardless, the twist manages to work itself out nicely upon implementation.
"The Double" is a relatively small-budget film with a duo of big name stars. Richard Gere remains one of the most unappreciated stars in Hollywood (not even being NOMINATED for Chicago? Oh please.) Gere here plays a tough old CIA agent, a role I'd imagine he's played before, and I imagine he will play again. Topher Grace plays the same role he usually plays in his action movies; unexperienced youngun who knows more than he lets on. The gorgeous Odette Yustman plays Grace's tough wife, and Tamar Hassan plays one of the badguys. He has a stock Russian badguy name and speaks in monosyllables.
Script-wise, the film is lacking. The characters are a series of clichés that contribute what you expect to happen next, not what you hope will happen next. More often than not, I shook my head at the imprisoned villain with the scars all over, and the disbelieving, disapproving heads of Gere and Grace's respective jobs. The conclusion has a final twist that doesn't shock anyone.
There is a scene near the beginning of the film with Gere and Martin Sheen, who here plays the Director of the CIA. Both characters have known each other for years. Gere arrives home and is startled to see the Director say something in the darkness, then flick on a light switch and inform Gere of his mission, should he choose to accept it. These two actors are two of Hollywood's best, and here they are in a formulaic thriller, performing in a scene so well-known that they probably didn't even need to read the script. It's so slight that you might not notice, but it makes the rest of the film worth it.
"The Double" is a ploddy, formulaic piece of theatre sustained by two more than able leads and lead on by a somewhat murky script. It's an enjoyable thriller that will keep your attention, but maybe not your interest.