After having watched The Double on Blu-ray, it’s easy to see why it was forgotten about. Aside from being a total bore, the story plays out like it was cobbled together using pieces from various scripts. Writer/director Michael Brandt tries to interest the audience in fighting a new kind of Cold War, but comes up empty. When a Senator is found murdered, retired CIA agent Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) is called back for a meeting after young FBI agent Ben Geary (Topher Grace) comes to believe that the killer is Shepherdson’s long-time nemesis, a Russian spy known as “Cassius.” Shepherdson spent decades tracking Cassius and his assassins. While he brought down all of the Russian spy’s associates, Shepherdson was never able to get close to Cassius himself. Before now, Cassius had been inactive for several years, and presumed dead. Now, with the Senator dead, and agent Geary’s suspicions, Cassius has once again become one of America’s most wanted.
Shepherdson reluctantly agrees to join the operation, pleasing Geary who had been studying his work since college. However, while Geary is convinced that Cassius is responsible for the Senator’s murder, Shepherdson isn’t so sure; he thinks it just might be a copycat killing.
Examining security camera footage at the airport for suspicious people entering the country, Shepherdson sees a team of known Russian Mafiosi which includes a brutal killer named Brutus (Stephen Moyer), whom Shepherdson knows very well. The veteran agent sets a trap to catch the psychopath. A chase ensues but the man is cunning and escapes. He’s later captured and interviewed by the team.
Spoilers Ahead: Brutus paces his cell like a man possessed. The animal proves his smarts when feigning a medical emergency, he escapes from his guarded hospital bed. Before he gets far, Brutus is confronted by Shepherdson. This agent is a veteran and has been anticipating the Russian’s every move. Brutus shows no fear of the agent until he identifies himself as Cassius! Surprisingly gullible, Brutus takes Shepherdson at his word, thus becoming a whimpering sissy. After all, if he’s truly in the presence of the man who trained him to kill (despite never having seen him), his days are numbered.
You guessed it! Shepherdson is a double agent (hence the title). Yeah, I tried to care, but by the time all of this is revealed, the film just doesn’t make any sense. The Double is so generic that even the most ardent Richard Gere fan will be hard pressed to sit through it.
Presented in the 235:1, this 1080p transfer is a solid one, with vivid colors and detail. The presentation has no issues to speak of; it’s too bad the same cant be said for the film.
Presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, the soundtrack is a fairly immersive one. Dialogue is always clear, and ambient sounds are vibrant.
English SDH, and Spanish subtitles are available.
The following special features are included:
- Commentary with Writer-Director Michael Brandt and Writer-Producer Derek Haas: Brandt and Haas discuss the script, particularly the changes that occured during production and editing. The two share stories from the set, many involving the budget and time constraints.
- Producer Interviews (HD, 7:49): A featurette that has interviews with Gere, Grace, Moyer, Brandt and Haas.
- Trailer (HD, 2:26)
