Latif Yahia is an officer serving in the Iraq military during the war between Iraq and Iran.  He is pulled off the front lines with an offer from Uday Hussein to be his body double.  Uday will not take no for an answer and Latif becomes Uday's double against his will.    What follows is Latif trying to survive against a madman who won't let him go- a madman who will take any girl he wants including picking up teenage girls walking home from school.   He looks for a way to escape when he thinks there is no way to escape.  He falls for Uday's mistress along the way.

THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE is based on a true story.   Director Lee Tamahori fictionalized it to some point to make the story flow more like a movie.    Dominic Cooper is amazing in his dual role as the psychotic Uday and Latif (Uday's double).   It captures another side of how people lived in fear during Saddam's reign in Iraq because his son Uday was just as saddistic (and flouted his power by doing what he wanted).    This film was done on a  low budget, but it doesn't like they had a limited budget (they used various tricks like having Middle East hotels standing in for Presidential compounds and green screen visual effects).   THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE is one of the most dramatic films I have sene this year and it may even make my Top 10 for 2011.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio commentary with Director Lee Tamahori

TRUE CRIME FAMILY- a look at the Hussein family and a behind-the-scenes look at making the film

DOUBLE DOWN WITH DOMINIC COOPER- an interview with Dominic Cooper who plays dual roles of Uday Hussein and Latif (Uday's double)

THE REAL DEVIL'S DOUBLE- an interview with the real Latif Yahia

Also on the disc are previews for other releases from Lionsgate.

FINAL ANALYSIS:   THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE is an engaging fictionalized take on teh son of Saddam Hussein and his double.   Dominic Cooper deserves a nomination or an award for his dual performances.

this DVD review is (c)11-24-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com