Apple just released the trailer for The Double, from director Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, who both co-wrote Wanted and 3:10 to Yuma, starring Richard Gere and Topher Grace as a pair of government agents tracking a legendary Soviet assassin (Soviet? Jeez, what year is it?). Richard Gere plays an old CIA salt, whose boss Martin Sheen brings him out of retirement and tells him, “It’s Cassius, he’s back.” And Richard Gere’s all like, “No, it can’t be, I killed him with my own gun!” And then this rookie FBI agent played by Topher Grace jumps up and he’s like, “Oh, I think it is.” And then Martin Sheen’s like, “Dick? Meet Topher, he knows more about Cassius than any snot-nosed rookie Poindexter with no field experience I’ve ever met.”
So then they team up, like a regular Sean Connery and Nic Cage. But next thing you know, Richard Gere is like, “GUESS WHAT, I’M CASSIUS!” And starts garroting people with his fancy watch. Then Topher Grace says, “This entire time… he’s been hunting himself!” Which is kind of lame, because duh, we already knew that. So… Why do we need to see this movie now? I guess just to see Richard Gere scream at chicks.
Back in the 80s our enemy was the Soviets, whose code name here is “Cassius.” Do you think that’s a reference to Cassius Clay, foreshadowing our enemies eventually becoming Muslims named Muhammed? Discuss.