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Ok here are the couple of reviews that I'd already started work on before deciding on a break. Decided to go ahead and finish them off, though they are a lot shorter and less in-depth than the norm. Just a couple of more basic reviews which I've combined into one post.
Plot – Beverly Mantle (Irons) and Elliot Mantle (Irons again!
) are identical twins who are both in the gynaecological profession. With no-one able to tell the apart they frequently take advantage of it for their own gains and amusement. However when an actress (Bujold) enters their lives, their individual existences and their relationship begin to unravel.
I think I need a shower! That's the feeling this film left me with. I found it to be a rather skeezy, unseemly effort. Tapping in to the fascination of twins that many people seem to have, it's quite a disturbing little tale of these brothers who have an unnaturally close, and unhealthy relationship. Though I should probably have seen the tone coming right from its faintly ominous opening credits, as images of birth and surgical tools dance across the screen against a backdrop of dark crimson.
For me what I found this film to be was a showcase for the acting talents of Jeremy Irons. It's quite a staggering achievement from the man who would be Simon Gruber as he depicts two very similar, but at the same time disparate characters; each with their own individual ticks, mannerisms and traits. And most of it achieved merely through body language. As a result for the majority of the time it is actually surprisingly easy to tell which character we are watching at any time. As the love interest of the twins, Genevieve Bujold once again impressed me with her intelligence, strength and sensuality. One big flaw I found with the film was the lack of Bujold, in particular the way she disappears from the film towards the end.
The most interesting aspect of the film was obviously the relationship between the brothers. In a way it seemed like they were one person – one persona split over two bodies. With their distinct personalities together they form a strong bond, but when Bujold's actress enters the scene and divides them both characters begin to crumble, and their lives fall apart.
I can see others finding this film to be very artistic and ambitious, and by tackling themes such as obsession, addiction, loneliness and identity it certainly feels like it should be ambitious and worthwhile. For the most part however I found it to be rather trashy and
Conclusion – I can just about understand why some people do love this film but not for me. While I found it to be an undoubtedly fascinating watch, it's one that I was not able to embrace or truly like. Even with the tremendous efforts of Jeremy Irons in the lead role (which was just about enough to get it by) at no point did I form a strong connection to it, and I'm not sure I envisage ever revisiting it.
Plot –Dan Dunne (Gosling) is a history teacher at an inner city junior high school. Despite suffering from a serious drug problem he is able to keep up the pretence that he is ok. Until one of his students, Drey (Epps) discovers his secret. This does not destroy any great illusions she had about him, instead it brings them close together as a friendship forms. She can understand his struggles and frustrations with life.
Freedom Writers, To Sir With Love, Dead Poet's Society, Mona Lisa Smile, Mr Holland's Opus, Finding Forrester, The Great Debaters, Coach Carter, Kindergarten Cop! and on and on - Hollywood isn't exactly lacking in inspirational teacher movies, in fact it seems to churn one out every couple of years. While this film may exist in that environment it sidesteps a lot of the clichés of the genre that you expect it to include. Yes it may have a teacher trying to inspire his students with a unique, unorthodox style. And yes it may have a white teacher teaching a class of poor black kids. But Gosling's teacher is no great idol, it shows him having just as many issues and troubles as the students he teaches. And yet he still has an effect on the life of one of his students. Though it is the student who eventually has just as much of a profound effect on his life.
The film's highlight is the relationship that develops between Mr Dunne and Drey, and the performances that bring it to life. Gosling delivers a performance that is both winning and very touching, showing the charisma we know he is capable of, but revealing it to be a show he puts on for the kids. And as young Drey, Shareeka Epps gives one of the best performances from a child actor I've probably ever seen. Also worthy of a mention is Anthony Mackie, whose drug dealer is not constrained by the type of stereotypes you usually expect for such a character.
The film does end on a small ray of hope, but not a big Hollywoodised bit of hope. We don't know for sure that everything is going to be ok, we just see the characters given a chance at hope but realising that they have a long way to go if they are to realise it.
Conclusion – It's not exactly a feel good film, much of it is really quite depressing actually. But the performances of Gosling and Epps make it a worthwhile journey to take.
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Year of release
1988
1988
Directed by
David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
Written by
David Cronenberg
Norman Snider
Bari Wood (novel - "Twins)
Jack Geasland (novel - "Twins")
David Cronenberg
Norman Snider
Bari Wood (novel - "Twins)
Jack Geasland (novel - "Twins")
Starring
Jeremy Irons
Genevieve Bujold
Jeremy Irons
Genevieve Bujold
Dead Ringers
Plot – Beverly Mantle (Irons) and Elliot Mantle (Irons again!
) are identical twins who are both in the gynaecological profession. With no-one able to tell the apart they frequently take advantage of it for their own gains and amusement. However when an actress (Bujold) enters their lives, their individual existences and their relationship begin to unravel.I think I need a shower! That's the feeling this film left me with. I found it to be a rather skeezy, unseemly effort. Tapping in to the fascination of twins that many people seem to have, it's quite a disturbing little tale of these brothers who have an unnaturally close, and unhealthy relationship. Though I should probably have seen the tone coming right from its faintly ominous opening credits, as images of birth and surgical tools dance across the screen against a backdrop of dark crimson.
For me what I found this film to be was a showcase for the acting talents of Jeremy Irons. It's quite a staggering achievement from the man who would be Simon Gruber as he depicts two very similar, but at the same time disparate characters; each with their own individual ticks, mannerisms and traits. And most of it achieved merely through body language. As a result for the majority of the time it is actually surprisingly easy to tell which character we are watching at any time. As the love interest of the twins, Genevieve Bujold once again impressed me with her intelligence, strength and sensuality. One big flaw I found with the film was the lack of Bujold, in particular the way she disappears from the film towards the end.
The most interesting aspect of the film was obviously the relationship between the brothers. In a way it seemed like they were one person – one persona split over two bodies. With their distinct personalities together they form a strong bond, but when Bujold's actress enters the scene and divides them both characters begin to crumble, and their lives fall apart.
I can see others finding this film to be very artistic and ambitious, and by tackling themes such as obsession, addiction, loneliness and identity it certainly feels like it should be ambitious and worthwhile. For the most part however I found it to be rather trashy and
Conclusion – I can just about understand why some people do love this film but not for me. While I found it to be an undoubtedly fascinating watch, it's one that I was not able to embrace or truly like. Even with the tremendous efforts of Jeremy Irons in the lead role (which was just about enough to get it by) at no point did I form a strong connection to it, and I'm not sure I envisage ever revisiting it.
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Year of release
2006
2006
Directed by
Ryan Fleck
Ryan Fleck
Written by
Ryan Fleck
Anna Boden
Ryan Fleck
Anna Boden
Starring
Ryan Gosling
Shareeka Epps
Anthony Mackie
Monique Gabriela Cumen
Ryan Gosling
Shareeka Epps
Anthony Mackie
Monique Gabriela Cumen
Half Nelson
Plot –Dan Dunne (Gosling) is a history teacher at an inner city junior high school. Despite suffering from a serious drug problem he is able to keep up the pretence that he is ok. Until one of his students, Drey (Epps) discovers his secret. This does not destroy any great illusions she had about him, instead it brings them close together as a friendship forms. She can understand his struggles and frustrations with life.
Freedom Writers, To Sir With Love, Dead Poet's Society, Mona Lisa Smile, Mr Holland's Opus, Finding Forrester, The Great Debaters, Coach Carter, Kindergarten Cop!
and on and on - Hollywood isn't exactly lacking in inspirational teacher movies, in fact it seems to churn one out every couple of years. While this film may exist in that environment it sidesteps a lot of the clichés of the genre that you expect it to include. Yes it may have a teacher trying to inspire his students with a unique, unorthodox style. And yes it may have a white teacher teaching a class of poor black kids. But Gosling's teacher is no great idol, it shows him having just as many issues and troubles as the students he teaches. And yet he still has an effect on the life of one of his students. Though it is the student who eventually has just as much of a profound effect on his life.The film's highlight is the relationship that develops between Mr Dunne and Drey, and the performances that bring it to life. Gosling delivers a performance that is both winning and very touching, showing the charisma we know he is capable of, but revealing it to be a show he puts on for the kids. And as young Drey, Shareeka Epps gives one of the best performances from a child actor I've probably ever seen. Also worthy of a mention is Anthony Mackie, whose drug dealer is not constrained by the type of stereotypes you usually expect for such a character.
The film does end on a small ray of hope, but not a big Hollywoodised bit of hope. We don't know for sure that everything is going to be ok, we just see the characters given a chance at hope but realising that they have a long way to go if they are to realise it.
Conclusion – It's not exactly a feel good film, much of it is really quite depressing actually. But the performances of Gosling and Epps make it a worthwhile journey to take.