With Michael Brandt's first directed movie, it was sort of expected that it would be of a script he wrote or co-wrote; he has experience in that department as well as in editing. Many reviewers point to what appears to be a flaw, namely that we can all guess who the mysterious Soviet assassin 'Casius' is: Gere. The idea of Richard Gere being a bad guy was suspicious to me. Indeed the plot is not about who Casius is, but something deeper. To say what that is exactly would be to spoil the story more than I already have.
Suffice it to say that there are a few surprises, at least two noteworthy ones. So despite what you have read in other reviews or from some critics, Brandt did not give away the story too soon; poor analysis and mediocre critic review will unfortunately leave you with the wrong impression. I do agree with those who saw good casting in Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen, not to mention the ravishing Odette Yutsman Annable. I have finally figured what it is about Gere I don't like but will save that for a future review; what does keep me going back to the cinema or the video store for his movies has always been his choice of script (he can pick 'em). As for Grace, you have to admit he has a lousy agent when you review the parts he's had, except the one in 'Traffic'. Here's an actor who has had plenty of experience on the small screen (TV) and who obviously has talent, but can't get good parts; hopefully 'The Double' will help change that. With any luck, Gere will have imparted some of his experience with picking scripts and agent to Grace; Sean Connery did a similar favour for Michael Caine during the filming of 'The Man Who Would Be King' (according to Michael Caine), in that he told him his secret to negotiating more lucrative movie contracts.
Suffice it to say that there are a few surprises, at least two noteworthy ones. So despite what you have read in other reviews or from some critics, Brandt did not give away the story too soon; poor analysis and mediocre critic review will unfortunately leave you with the wrong impression. I do agree with those who saw good casting in Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen, not to mention the ravishing Odette Yutsman Annable. I have finally figured what it is about Gere I don't like but will save that for a future review; what does keep me going back to the cinema or the video store for his movies has always been his choice of script (he can pick 'em). As for Grace, you have to admit he has a lousy agent when you review the parts he's had, except the one in 'Traffic'. Here's an actor who has had plenty of experience on the small screen (TV) and who obviously has talent, but can't get good parts; hopefully 'The Double' will help change that. With any luck, Gere will have imparted some of his experience with picking scripts and agent to Grace; Sean Connery did a similar favour for Michael Caine during the filming of 'The Man Who Would Be King' (according to Michael Caine), in that he told him his secret to negotiating more lucrative movie contracts.