Magnolia Snags U.S. Rights To Richard Ayoade's THE DOUBLE

A favorite of Todd's at TIFF, and sporting one of the niftiest little teasers of the year, comedian turned director Richard Ayoade's sophomore effort is coming to U.S. theaters sometime in 2014 thanks to the folks at Magnolia. Sounds the trumpets, here's an official plot synopsis:

Jesse Eisenberg plays Simon, a timid, isolated man who's overlooked at work, scorned by his mother, and ignored by the woman of his dreams (Wasikowska). The arrival of a new co-worker, James (also played by Eisenberg), serves to upset the balance. James is both Simon's exact physical double and his opposite - confident, charismatic and good with women. To Simon's horror, James slowly starts taking over his life.

The Double exists in a world of its own, a sepia drenched construction caught up in an existential crisis of massive proportions. And it's a world that Ayoade delights in, in his drily absurd way, lacing the entire thing through with a deliciously dry sense of humor. Eisenberg is as strong as he's ever been in his dual role, Wasikowska quietly radiant as the object of his affections, and the supporting cast - which includes virtually the entire principal cast of Submarine in some role or another - stellar from top to bottom. The direction is impeccable, the script - co-written by Ayoade and Avi Korine - equally so, the overall film very nearly flawless.

Will The Double appeal to everyone? No, of course not. But if you're the sort who has been known to break out laughing at Kafka, then it doesn't get better than this. Very highly recommended.