Michael Ledo
Richard Gere, a retired CIA agent is called back from retirement to find a Soviet assassin believed to have been dead. A senator was murdered with the killer using the same MO as code name "Cassius" a former Russian agent assassin who was never caught. Gere is paired with Topher Grace, a young desk jockey from the FBI. Topher studied Cassius and wrote his thesis on him. He believes Cassius is alive and retired in the US and is the recent killer. Gere claims it is a copy cat killer and does not want to work with Topher.There is an early plot twist, something we get enough hints to clue us in. Even though Topher lacks field experience he is fairly savvy. As they seek out Cassius, bodies start to accumulate. Martin Sheen plays the head of the CIA. While an early mystery is solved for us, there are others that exist. There are action scenes, killings, and drama. I felt the acting brought the film down. Gere was wrong for that role. I really would have liked a hipper Travolta. I did enjoy the soundtrack, which was a mild Russian pagan metal with a good drum beat. Makes for a decent spy drama rental. 7 stars. Gere fans can take it to 8 stars as he looks like he has stayed in pretty good shape for a man his age.No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Mild swearing.
lynnleyda
Requires patience, but is worth it. You think you know what will happen, and then you're suspicious of all of the "other" main characters, and then, after great suspense and action, you find out. Excellent if you like mystery and suspense, with action sequences a bonus.
mattcook1983
Shouting is acting, the macho cast of this man-film seem to think.Richard Gere is astonishingly wooden, especially during the token Russian dialogue. The sound, script, direction and pacing is straight out of every other bore-snore CIA film - I was astonished to find this was made in 2011, albeit Gere's silver fox looks are a giveaway - it feels like it could have been just as dull in 1985.Weak-willed and expendable female characters, and some of the most insincere lines I've ever heard in cinema. Predictable fist-fights, tired gunfights, wrote car chases.I might start calling him Gere the insincere.
truiz1
A spy thriller in a line of spy thrillers that manages to captivate and entertain its audience, if not thrill. Following a formula to the letter, The Double is predictable to the last plot point, and the pretty packaging of this movie is tied up with a bow, not in the least surprising though it attempts one surprise after another. You'll quickly understand the intent of the plot, and the identity of the characters, but Gere and Grace are strong enough actors that they can turn predictable characters into interesting performances.Russian spies in the U.S., but for how long? According to FBI Agent Ben Geary, they have been for as long as you can imagine. He is hot on the trail of long-ghosted assassin Cassius, a man never identified and never caught when the Russians were the worst threat the CIA could imagine, back in the 80's and 90's. According to CIA Agent Paul Shepherdson, though, those days are over. Begin sparring between agencies to get to the bottom of a mystery, or perhaps begin re-looking at what everyone thinks they know. You won't have to watch long to understand the true story behind the story, but you'll want to watch to see just how it all plays out.
AD
