Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Manthast Absolutely amazing

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

witster18 EXTREMELY MILD SPOILERS - I don't give away much of anything, but looking at the fine print of the user-agreement leads me to this.I've often made the argument that a film doesn't have to be "likable" to be good. This is great example.This film has some extremely positive qualities. The acting is rather strong from what will most likely be complete unknowns(to American audiences anyway) - even though the lead male looks exactly like Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Javier Bardem... and his acting chops don't suffer much like you might expect given the comparison physically either... even though, let's be honest, nobody stands up well to Bardem."The DOuble Hour" also has as many twists as the top of a coat-hanger, and the audience is likely to guess and likely to be wrong on almost all of them. In hind-site, the twists actually make decent sense and add a nice depth and intrigue post-viewing.Another impressive quality was in some of the cinematography and sound that really added to the "thrilling" nature of the film. I don't think it's spoiling much because these are just subtle tricks that some of the film-makers incorporated - so I'll mention a few.There's one moment where a character feels like someone is watching over them, and there's just a sliver of color down the left bottom corner of the screen, and only for a split-second - it's a really well-done shot.Another 'similar' scene is showing the same character in a similar position in bed, suffering the same phobia, picturing/dreaming themselves alone and then with their partner back-and-forth, and one quick shot in the middle of the character being shown alone(in one of the quick flashes), incorporates three hands near her face and it is also an extremely nice touch. Just another that kind-of separates this from your slightly above average foreign thriller.Yet another occurs in a bathtub, and that scene has nice visuals(although they've been done before in similar scenes), AND each of these three shots uses some nice audio tricks.I'll compare this to another foreign thriller that I watched on the same day in case you've seen it. I also ranked "the Hidden Face" a 7(67/100), but I would say "the Double Hour" here is about as strong of a 7(74.4/100) as possible. This is a clear notch above even though they score the same on IMDb for me.Given the number one reason the film will get sub-par ratings is the genre-bending nature of the story and the unlikable characters themselves - the film actually covers it's bases quite well, and their actions fit their characters back-story to-a-tea. There's little to no problems with plausibility(or the ending) here, but people don't like to be wrong.I'd assume that will be the number one criticism of this film, and I believe it to be unjustified. This film has quite literally grown on me every hour since viewing it.Recommended.You'll like this if you liked: Headhunters(better), The Hidden Face(not as good), or Point Blank(not as good).Thanks for reading.

David Ferguson Greetings again from the darkness. Suspenseful thrillers, when well done, are just about as much fun as one can have at a theatre (unless you are Pee Wee Herman). The debut film from director Giusseppe Capotondi is very well acted, and pretty well written and filmed. It has some similarities to, but is not quite at the level of one of my Top 5 movies from 2008 - Tell No One.Filmed in Italy (with English subtitles), the film does a terrific job of sucking us right in. Guido (Filippo Timi) and Sonia (Ksenrya Rappoport) meet at a speed dating event. He is a former cop now security guard, and she is a Slovenian immigrant working as a housekeeper at a swanky Italian hotel. Love blossoms for these two until the story takes a very dark turn. That's when all the twists and turns and misdirection begin.Really not possible to talk too much about what happens, other than to say the characters and events aren't always what they seem. I really enjoyed the first two acts of the movie, but felt letdown a bit by the final act. Some of the visuals are very good, but the wrap up is just a bit disappointing. Still, the first 80 minutes or so are terrific and make the film worth watching.

jadepietro This film is mildly recommended.I miss Alfred Hitchcock. His films were carefully constructed thrillers that would rarely let the moviegoer down. His pacing, editing, camera angles, and most importantly, his script, kept logic intact while entertaining and building suspense. There were always concluding set pieces that became memorable parts of cinema history: a chase on Mount Rushmore, a runaway carousel, a fight aboard a high speed train, an attack of stark-raving mad ravens. As I sat watching the Italian import, The Double Hour, my thoughts yearned for his deft director's touch on this film's intriguing premise.Directed by newcomer Giuseppe Capotondi, the film stars Kseniya Rappoport as Sonya and Flippo Timi as Guido, two lonely sorts who meet at a speed dating seminar. She works as a hotel maid and he is an ex-cop turned security guard and both sense a real instant connection there. That's the beginning of a complex labyrinth that held my complete interest for about three-fourth of the film's length.This off-beat thriller that becomes more ominous and intriguing every second with plot twists and startling reveals in its intricate plotting. There are twists galore, some minor, some major, and I enjoyed the conceit of the filmmaker in toying with his audience.Now I love a good mystery and this is one, that is, up until the last few minutes when the mystery unravels and so does all reasoning. Actions are so out of character with Sonya and Guido's arc that the film defies rationality. Incidents that occur in the beginning of the film become random thoughts and really have no bearing in the maze-like structure of the story. The final shot made little sense to me when trying to decode the scheme of events prior to that ending, leaving me with a bitter taste of regret. ( Plus, no memorable set piece is on display when one could have been added in the airport scene to full effect.)The movie tagline for The Double Hour reads as follows: A Romance. A Robbery. A Mystery. All that is true, and for the most of the time, the film does successfully involve the moviegoer. But, unfortunately, the film ultimately disappoints in the last half hour of the film when all the logic gives way to a very unsatisfying ending.Sadly, I felt double-crossed and cheated when the end credits rolled. Yes, Alfred would have ironed out all the plot kinks before filming this exasperating thriller. Why have your audience invest their time and emotions in all of the film's intricacies when your overly convoluted plot becomes the major obstacle to the mystery itself. The Double Hour is second rate Hitchcock at best. GRADE: B-NOTE: Visit my movie blog for more reviews: www.dearmoviegoer.com

boneman4 My first complaint is that the subtitles were not infrequently "white on white" making them unreadable and preventing understanding of a convoluted plot that required full concentration.Aside from that,even one fluent in Italian would have difficulty making any sense out of this plot that would require imagination far beyond the Lynchian productions.The example of robbing a facility with such valuable material and such minimal security is absurd.Even Inspector Clouseau could have solved this crime. The psychological and surrealistic portions were misplaced and offered little.I will admit that the acting was good, especially the principals. Ksenia Rappaport is a very watchable actress and could be a benefit in an otherwise well constructed film. In its present state however, I cannot recommend it.