Rating of
3.5/4
"Dead Ringers" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 05/10/12
Brilliant gynecologists Beverly and Elliot Mantle are identical twins who share everything-even women-when the younger and more sensitive of the two forms an emotional bond with one of their patients that threatens their inter-dependent relationship. David Cronenberg's dark psycho-sexual chiller is lacking his usual gory effects and is a much more subtle and understated affair. The doctors' psychological decay and descent into drug abuse and madness is handled with great sensitivity, never demonising or judgemental, and the seamless direction and visual effects mean that you would never guess that the twins were played by the same actor if you didn't already know. Jeremy Irons turns in not one but two remarkable performances as the troubled twins, subtly giving each individuality through reactions and body language; I personally think it was a crime that Irons did not win the Oscar for best actor, and arguably deserved the best supporting actor Oscar as well. The story builds quite slowly, but pays dividends at it's incredibly powerful and moving climax; surely Cronenberg's best work.
