The surreal film Enemy, an erotic thriller that entrances, opens in theaters today and it’s worth the watch. Set in a world of psychological disorder, sexual needs and narcissism Director Denis Villeneuve spools out a drama that’s very strange, yet seductive and carnal. The movie gets emotional, foreboding and idiosyncratic much like the film “Melancholia”. Weaving in a lot of symbolism, the movie is more for the intellectual than the romantic.
The plot centers on Adam (Jake Gyllenhaal), a college history teacher who’s filled with lust bordering sexual addiction. He abuses his girlfriend Mary (Mélanie Laurent) with his penchant for hard sex. Although quite rough, Mary still keeps coming back every night or whenever the opportunity arises. The two are engrossed in each other bodily, but as the story plays out the relationship seems to be wearing thin.
One day during his lunch period at his college a male teacher (Joshua Peace) asks him if he likes movies. Adam answers offhandedly that he really doesn’t like or go to the movies. The teacher suggests however, that he see the film “Where there is a Will there is a Way”. Now intrigued by the suggestion, he finds the movie at a video store and watches it that evening. His eye catches a bellhop in the film that looks familiar, so familiar it could be his identical twin.
When he gets Anthony Claire’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) name from the cast list and finds the phone number from his casting office, a strange set of circumstances begin to unravel. Director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) moves the film along setting up a conflict between the two doubles, then starts to involve Anthony’s pregnant wife Helen (Sarah Gadon). Villeneuve pushes the envelope inserting a sordid interlude with an unsuspecting Mary who gives in to whom she thinks is Adam. He sets up the surprise extremely well making the tryst feel like an unwitting rape.
Gyllenhaal is brilliant in the roles of Adam and Anthony only showing slight differences in their personalities and knowledge of each other’s lives. The face to face meetings are seamless and the two are portrayed nicely as if they might be doubles. And director Villeneuve even has a scene where the two are in a heated confrontation. Clothing is used to identify each of them while they are apart and Anthony wears a wedding ring. If you didn’t know it was the same actor you many think Gyllenhaal has a real life double, his performance is that good.
The two women in the film are at the top of their game. Mélanie Laurent (Shosanna in Inglourious Basterds) gives a very sexual performance as Mary turning her body into a play toy for Adam to fornicate. She’s also a pawn in Anthony’s plan as a reprisal for Adam contacting him in the first place, when he should have not contacted him at all. Playing her counterpart as the wife of Anthony, Sarah Gadon (Emma Jong in A Dangerous Method) as the pregnant Helen is the first to find out that the two look exactly alike. She’s befuddled and does a brilliant job of depicting the frail woman who has everything to lose if things go sour.
The very good film editing and special green screen use are nicely done to give the impression that Adam and Anthony are two different people but look exactly alike right down to the scar. The close-ups of the two together are not rocket science, but the camerawork must have been a nightmare to get the right angle, dialogue timing and exact positioning. Their conversations and rants are extremely well choreographed and I’ll bet director Villeneuve has a few more gray hairs than from when he started shooting.
Enemy has been rated R by the MPAA for some strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language. The sex is very provocative much like the movie Shame, yet plays a big part in defining the characters.
Specifications and additional film information:
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini
Director: Denis Villeneuve
MPAA Rating: Rated R for some strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Running Time: 1 hr 30 min
Release Date: March 21, 2014
Distributed by: A24
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
