Dead Ringers (DVD)

The original film that spawned the series.Top 5 Cronenberg

The original 1988 theatrical poster is spot on with its eerie description of this highly underrated psychological drama.Director David Cronenberg co-wrote the screenplay, which was based on the novel "Twins" by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland. The film is also loosely based on real-life events. Not having read the book makes no difference to the impact of this astonishing movie.Set in Toronto, Canada, the story follows a pair of gynaecologists who also happen to be identical twin brothers: Beverly and Elliot Mantle (Jeremy Irons, in a dual role).In life; Beverly is introverted and reserved, while Elliot is extroverted and confident. A pair of highly intelligent doctors; their work (specializing in treating female fertility problems) is cutting-edge, their home world private and secluded, their lives intertwined in every aspect.They live together, eat together, breathe together. If one goes out, upon return the other is regaled with every little detail of the events. They share each others’ lives: education, work, women, thoughts and dreams.Their equilibrium is thrown into disarray, when a women with an unusual medical condition enters their world. Claire Niveau (Geneviève Bujold), a troubled actress, becomes a wedge that slowly pry’s the brothers apart. She is the catalyst of their separation.What follows is a mesmerizing study of the lives of these troubled souls.Geneviève Bujold plays her part wonderfully, and is a deft counter-balance to the atmospheric sombreness and dread of the Mise-en-scène Cronenberg creates, with sharp lines, clinical tone and colour palette. She indeed brings a perfect element of both delicateness and power to Claire. She is a much needed contrast to the stoic yet profound performances of Jeremy Irons.Irons’ portrayal of the unsettlingly close identical brothers, is nothing short of a tour de force performance. One that should go down as one of the greatest ever. His subtle delivery and nuanced differentiation of Beverly and Elliot is a revelation to witness. He conveys the brothers’ inner torment with nothing but a look or a gesture. He utterly dissolves into the characters, allowing us to concentrate on the harrowing, disturbing downfall that unfolds before us.The soundtrack is also worthy of mention. The great Howard Shore, delivering again (much like his “Silence of the Lambs” effort) a unique, creepy, neutral, and subtle accompaniment.Sad and horrific, this tale is indeed hard to watch. It is a slow character study. It gets under your skin. Burning progressively to a logical, yet no-less powerful ending. Many people seem to rate this movie as boring, confusing, and tedious. Perhaps it went over their heads or there wasn’t enough explosions or guns or they are just too conservative. Indeed, much like other Cronenbergian pictures, it is not for the squeamish.Cronenberg fans have even criticized it and rated it low in this body of work. Why? I don’t know. It certainly would help your enjoyment if you are already a fan of his, but if this your first Cronenberg, it absolutely won’t be your last. Other fans, like myself, consider this to be one of his true masterpieces, alongside “Videodrome” and “Crash”.So if you’re up for a journey of “interesting” emotions and unsettling feelings, one filled with meaning and metaphors, and one of thrilling, masterful storytelling; switch the lights off, turn the sound up, and open your mind. 10 out of 10.

It's hard to recall anything Jeremy Irons has ever done that isn't delicious, challenging, and, we imagine, in train to the great British theatrical tradition. Per capita, don't they seem to throw off more of the best? Here, he shows an intoxicating descent into madness alongside his equally dissembling twin. Lover/protagonist Genevieve Bujold will drive them to the asylum. This movie is 30 years old, and has some datedness here and there. But has held up well, and any fan of Irons and decidedly non-precious film fare will not call this movie 2 hours they can never get back.

Highlights a brilliant surgeons decent into madness.

With 'Dead Ringers' it seemed as if Cronenberg was moving further and further away from the B-movie genre pictures that defined much of his earlier work. Jeremy Irons' performances are perfect, displaying the kind of detached self-destructiveness that defines Cronenberg's best films (particularly 'Naked Lunch'). What's truly astounding is that Irons, playing two identical twin gynecologists, is able to differentiate his performances to the point that, even as they become increasingly unstable and dependent on the other, both characters somehow retain distinct personalities. This gives the film an uncanny, tragic dimension.This is especially significant given that Cronenberg, pegged as a special effects artist, was not then thought of as much of an actor's director. The interiors in 'Dead Ringers' are fantastically moody, as in all of his best work, and perfectly support Iron's acting.This (Warner) DVD is pretty good overall. The transfer at least rivals the Criterion release released much earlier, though the aspect ratio is somewhere around 1.85 instead of the Criterion's 1.66. 1.66 may suit the film a little better and is/was Cronenberg's preferred, though some have argued that the original theatrical release was probably projected at 1.85. Price will probably be the deciding factor.The Irons commentary is good, too. It's very subdued, relaxing, and a performance as complex as his probably warrants a feature-length commentary.

I got new collector's edition and saw the movie yesterday. I haven't watched the movie before, but I decided to buy it because it's Cronenberg film. I wouldn't talk about plot in detail with my imperfect English. I actually expected it to be a body-horror film, but it's more like psychological thriller with dark and depressing mood. All the seriousness begins in the second half as Beverly suffers depression and paranoia. The movie was disturbing, but really beautiful and sad. One day has passed, but I still cannot stop thinking about the scenes in the movie and the theme music by Howard Shore.

Item arrived as described and on time!

I thought Jeremy Irons gave a good performance as he usually(if not always) does. Sadly, he was the best part of the movie for me. Though I will probably watch it again, it wasn't the kind of movie I would want to see many more times. This movie is definitely an acquired taste. While I can appreciate some strange movies, this one didn't quite have the charm to bring me back to it that often. I would say that if you like odd movies or are a fan of Jeremy Irons, it is worth checking out.