MovieChat Forums > The Devil's Double (2011) Discussion > Great movie....until the third act

Great movie....until the third act

posted 13 years ago by protolexis
7 replies | jump to latest

This movie started off really strong. Great acting, gripping story, and interesting characters. Sadly, I felt the film went downhill right after the nightclub scene where Latif stands up to Uday and they have a shootout. Sarrab's betrayal came out of left field and made little sense to me. If she had a daughter, why even bother asking him to take her along? Was it a spur of the moment decision only to be regretted later? If so, it seemed like a silly and unnecessary subplot. After Sarrab and Latif part ways, we see this completely fabricated plot to kill Uday. This never happened, why do it? I get that it's a movie, things are done for the sake of entertainment, and there is a sense of retribution at the end, but I felt like this major historical inaccuracy personally killed the movie for me. It felt too cliche, and I would have loved to have seen an ending that was less abrupt, more historically accurate, and slightly more compelling.

"Join the army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill 'em." - Woody Allen

[–] Captainbabba 13 years ago

I thought exactly same thing. Too long also, could have cut that whole love subplot thing with Sarrab.

[–] i_am_switch 13 years ago

The assassination plot actually did happen, just not with Latif involved. It gives a sense of closure in the film as the audiance needs to see that Uday gets his in the end.

As to why Sarrab betrayed him, I thought it accurately portrayed how terrified everyone was of Uday. She fled from him out of fear, but returned to him in order to receive some small portion of favor and perhaps enough time to get her family and everyone she had ever met out of Iraq. I wasn't surprised that it was her at all.

So no, it wasn't a major historical inaccuracey. They just put faces to the attack to tie it into the story line. Other films have done the same thing.

[–] protolexis 13 years ago

I know the assassination plot happened, and that was an acceptable way to end the film, however, my issue is that the real-life Latif had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Concerning Sarrab, I'm sorry but although Uday was a scary guy and all, they were in Malta and had gotten away practically scot-free. So that means she betrayed Latif because of her child. But even so, what do you think happened to Sarrab when she returned to Iraq? Do you actually think Uday let her live? Although we never actually see what happens to her we both know she was a goner. So tell me, what was the point of this 10 minute side-plot? What did it achieve other than show a woman's poor judgement which inevitably led to an outcome the viewer is not shown? To me, it achieved nothing.

There are major historical inaccuracies throughout the film if we're going to split hairs but again, that wasn't my beef. I know that things are portrayed a certain way for the sake of entertainment, but often times there is a fine line between embellishment and poor script writing.

"Join the army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill 'em." - Woody Allen

[–] filmfancy 13 years ago

Concerning Sarrab, I'm sorry but although Uday was a scary guy and all, they were in Malta and had gotten away practically scot-free. So that means she betrayed Latif because of her child. But even so, what do you think happened to Sarrab when she returned to Iraq? Do you actually think Uday let her live? Although we never actually see what happens to her we both know she was a goner. So tell me, what was the point of this 10 minute side-plot? What did it achieve other than show a woman's poor judgement which inevitably led to an outcome the viewer is not shown? To me, it achieved nothing.

I totally agree. I also agree with your other comments, especially about the weak script. Dominic Cooper was fabulous, but the writing and directing were weak--hard to believe because it's the same director who made Once Were Warriors, one of my all-time favourite films.

"And all the pieces matter"

[–] protolexis 13 years ago

Cooper WAS great considering he had to work with a half-baked script.

"Join the army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill 'em." - Woody Allen

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