THE DOUBLE

Directed by: Richard Ayoade

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn

Running time: 93 minutes

When I heard that Richard Ayoade will try to adapt Dostoevsky's The Double I simply think: what the fuck? Who on earth can adapt such dark novella? Who wanted to finance him?

But Ayoade proves that he can do it and this is a huge departure from coming-of-age-the-Wes-Anderson-way-only-more-british: Submarine (2010). 

Jesse Eisenberg (shot to fame by The Social Network) plays the titular role as Simon, an unhappy salary man in a dreary job (wasn't clear what his job is, but it seems like in statistics). 

Ayoade makes sure that the audience is lost in time and space. It wasn't clear when the story happened, one thing for sure, the people in The Double has no smartphone.

Simon is insignificant in his job, not just because he is shy and socially awkward, but his boss and peers does not consider him to exist at all. His office is bleak, uninspiring and feels like Hungarian offices in 1970s. 

Having a crush on a pretty co-worker, Simon fails to impress her. Until Simon finds another employee that looks like him 100% but have a totally different personality. His name is James and James took the office by storm. His charm and wit conquers everything.

Not even a single soul in the office care to point out that James and Simon looks alike. By this Ayoade points out the alienation of human by work, something most salary man who have worked more than five years in the same office and doing the same thing over and over again could relate.

Is it a ghost? Simon's imagination? Or something else? That is not the point of this stylish film (even the score is amazing, it will remind you of Hitchock's movies), the point is, as a human we should not be imprisoned by structure and make our mark.

A dark but compelling story from Ayoade and a magnificent act from Jesse Eisenberg. Most viewers will not like this film, but if you like something good and provocative, The Double is the answer.