| Overall Grade: |
A- |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
B+ |
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| Visuals: |
N/A |
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Jeremy Irons Delivers!
by Timothy (movies profile)
Dec 12, 2006
David Cronenberg always delivers the goods when it comes to the bizarre. He portrayed the disturbing, drug-induced world of William S. Burroughs in Naked Lunch and introduced us to a world of sex and car wrecks with Crash. Before tackling these controversial projects of the 1990’s, Cronenberg put an emphasis on primarily horror-themed films in the 1970’s and 80’s. I am familiar with only a couple of Cronenberg’s films from this era, but heard the most buzz about one titled Dead Ringers. It is this film that makes me realize why David Cronenberg is a unique wonder to film buffs and horror fans alike.
Dead Ringers is the odd story of identical twins, Beverly and Elliot Mantle (Jeremy Irons). The brothers are medical geniuses who run a gynecology practice together. They are identical in every way except for personalities: Elliot is charismatic and seductive, while Beverly is shy and reclusive. Luckily, Elliot cares for his brother so much that shares his women with Beverly when he has grown tired of them. All Beverly has to do is show up to their apartment and say he is Elliot. They make a great team in the woman-sharing lifestyle until Beverly falls for an actress named Claire (Genevieve Bujold) that Elliot carelessly seduced. Can the two brothers adjust to a woman between them? Unfortunately they share a connection that hits turbulence when a woman comes between them
First of all, Jeremy Irons, you are the man! It is one thing when Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen go their independent ways and play two distinct and different twins. It is another thing when a single actor can do this exact same thing. Like Nicholas Cage did so in the recent Adaptation, Jeremy Irons plays twin brothers to perfection. Even though Beverly and Elliot are exactly the same, the audience can distinguish the two brothers by their behavior patterns and personal characteristics just by looking at them.
The film itself is very haunting as well. After experiencing love for the first time, Beverly reaches a state of madness and obsession. The horror that follows is once again thanks to the fine performance by Irons. The narration has quite a slow start, but this is due to character introductions. Sure it takes a while for the film to deliver chills, but this is a psychological thriller. Before the film can shift into drive, the audience has to feel a connection with the brotherly protagonists.
Dead Ringers is not a scary film involving monsters or madmen jumping out from behind trees. It is the portrayal of a dependency between two men and the frightening consequences of what can happen when a lifelong bond is threatened. Not for all tastes, but really…..is every movie out there supposed to be for everyone? |
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