Review
Enemy (Thriller) [Inspired by a Novel] (2013)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writer: Javier Gullón, José Saramego (Inspired by Novel by)
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini
Living a monotonous existence, a solemn married man spots a doppelganger of himself in a film, becoming obsessed with the chance of a meeting between them.
Before his popularity rose as one of the most well-regarded modern directors, Denis Villeneuve created this novel adaptation named "Enemy", inspired by José Saramego's novel "The Double". Casting Jake Gyllenhaal as the lead, having previously starred in the positively received feature "Prisoners", their working relationship was well established. It was produced by Pathé, Entertainment One, Rhombus Media, and Roxbury, among many others, and distributed worldwide by A24, Entertainment One, Albatros Film, Condor Entertainment, and Alfa Pictures.
Going through the motions of an unfulfilling life, Adam (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles to find meaning through his career as a college history teacher. Upon receiving a movie recommendation from his colleague, he discovers an actor who bears an uncanny resemblance to his own.
In an exploration of thought patterns and existential topics, Villeneuve unveils the oppression inside our own minds, trying to widen perspectives as any sense of logical reality becomes untangled.
Through a lecture about dictatorship and its many forms, Villeneuve complicates the thriller genre with his oppressive and mind-bending tones, leading towards a tense tug-of-war between Gyllenhaal's dual characters. Similarities aren't solely found within its protagonist—yet, additionally, their lives, wives and struggles as they fail to thrive; it's almost as if one exists as the shadow of the other. High-brow concepts are suggestive, yet it is strenuous to find anything but vague and conceptual without much room for defined theories in the average viewing experience.
Each of the film's esoteric themes is provided with an ambiguity well-becoming of its director, which has been seen more prominently in later films, too—not withholding these to be executed with further experience. As the double-life of Gyllenhaal's Adam and Anthony progresses, it would've been favourable to see additional nuanced approaches as the shadow-version idea becomes too palpable. In some way, Anthony lives the life Adam would prefer despite both struggling in varying ways. The former's existence is outwardly successful, while the other seems to be suffering under his own regime. Working up to the eventual face-to-face succeeds in telling it convincingly for such a light feature in terms of pronounced narratives—much patience is certainly required to achieve any form of fulfilment.
While released at a time when both Villeneuve and his leading actor were less experienced, "Enemy" lacks too much, which would be required in a redeeming feature. In terms of thrillers. The flick hangs more towards the side of a mystery without any crime or much absorbable intrigue; it proves listless, far too conceptual and theoretical, despite some neat visual trickery and thoughtful presentation.
Verdict
Its own worst enemy.
3,5
