Sam's Blog - Enemy

What would you do if you discovered there was another you out there? Would you leave it at coincidence, or would you have to know for sure? Denis Villenueve's film, inspired by Jose Saramago's book The Double, is an enigma, revealing a smoggy megalopolis in which the line between reality and surreality blurs.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Adam, a withdrawn history professor whose routine blandly consists of lecturing, grading, and sleeping with his girlfriend. One day he watches a film suggested by a colleague, and discovers an actor who is his exact physical double. Upon trying to contact the actor, named Anthony, he discovers that they sound the same, and they look the same -- right down to the scars on their chests. But their personalities seem to be the exact opposite: while Adam is quiet, introverted, and unsure, Anthony is scheming and quick to anger. And they are on different pages in life, too; Anthony is married with a kid on the way and boasts a beautiful apartment, while a comment is made in the film about Adam's inability to stay with a partner for too long.

I had some qualms about Adam's initial reaction to this bizarre situation... the fact that he kept this discovery to himself seemed a little too farfetched, even with his reserved character, and he seemed much too inclined to stalk Anthony. However, the plot has to get rolling somehow, and once the two meet, everything else fades away: the viewer's one goal at this point is to figure out what in the world is going on.

For those of you expecting a fast-paced thriller, think again... The story builds slowly, with arachnic imagery entwined into many of the shots, and never completely concludes the mystery: are they clones? Is it perhaps a case of split personality? None of the characters ever interact with both Adam and Anthony together, and it is clear that Adam and Anthony have opposing personalities, the two sides of the same coin, but there are details that suggest that this idea may be wrong. However, there is hope that sense will be made; there seem to be clues dropped along the way, and by the end of the film, with its bloodcurdling last shot, the answer seems just out of reach.

Regardless of the frustration of an unsolved mystery, the film is beautiful, with a score that will raise the hairs on your neck. If you're looking for a film that will lead to conversation, come watch Enemy at the Midtown Cinema, and you will certainly have something to talk about!